OAKLAND -- Sean Manaea will step on a mound on Tuesday. He’s just not sure where that will be.

After throwing 60 pitches in a simulated game at the A’s Minor League complex in Arizona on Thursday, Manaea is anxious to begin facing hitters of a different uniform than his own. But A’s manager Bob Melvin and his training staff are still deciding what is the best course of action for the left-hander.

“He is going to throw again on Tuesday. Good chance he’ll go to one of our affiliates, but I’m not sure which yet,” Melvin said. “There is the potential for another sim. Still deciding on that.”

Manaea is returning from left shoulder surgery that he underwent last September to repair a torn labrum, and the A’s are targeting a return in July after the All-Star break. They could use his big arm in the rotation after learning of top starter Frankie Montas’ 80-game suspension for PEDs before Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Rays.

Cotton throws bullpen session

Jharel Cotton threw a 27-pitch bullpen session before Saturday’s game for the first time since undergoing right hamstring surgery on June 6, and he came away feeling healthy. He is expecting to go on a Minor League rehab assignment after the All-Star break, with early August as a target for his return to the Majors.

“It’s kind of surprising how quick he’s come back from this,” Melvin said of Cotton, who is also recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in March 2018. “We thought he’d be out longer, but he’s been able to keep his arm in shape, and the hamstring feels better. I’m not sure on a timetable with him yet, but I didn’t think he’d be off a mound at this point.”

Though Cotton was expected to pitch exclusively out of the bullpen in 2019, Melvin said he has pondered utilizing the right-hander as an opener given his experience as a starter.

“I’ve thought about that, and there is probably something to that,” Melvin said. “But it wouldn’t just be my decision, we’d have to talk about that as a group.”

Wednesday’s starter TBA

The A’s have not announced a starter for Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals, which would have been Montas’ turn in the order, but Melvin mentioned Daniel Mengden and Paul Blackburn as candidates. Both right-handers have started games for the A’s this season.