Worth noting

• Right-hander Henderson Alvarez threw long toss from flat ground on Thursday. His elbow appears to be fine, and there is nothing to suggest that hewon't be ready to pitch Saturday, according to manager John Farrell.

• Jamie Moyer, recently signed by the Blue Jays, will make his debut for Triple-A Las Vegas onThursday.

• Catcher Jeff Mathis has started all three games Brett Cecil has pitched this season, as Farrell likes thedynamic between the two.

"In the first two starts they've worked together, I think they have worked very well together," Farrellsaid. "I know it's not a long run or a large number of starts, but given what the returns have been withboth in combination, they are back at it again."