Worth noting

• Kyle Blanks, who is nearing the two-month mark of his DL stint with a left calf strain, is playing every other day for Triple-A Sacramento and increasing his innings each time. The A's want him to play a full nine before he returns and, once he does, they'll have to decide between him and Nate Freiman as their right-handed-hitting first baseman.

• Nick Punto (right hamstring strain) is eligible to come off the DL on Monday, but he is expected to need at least an extra week to continue rehabbing.

• The A's local TV affiliate, Comcast SportsNet California, is not carrying Thursday's series finale against the Royals, but it will be shown exclusively on MLB.TV.