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  6. article_body => "<p>OAKLAND \u2014 Sonny Gray threw a roughly 50-pitch session Tuesday with hitters standing in, and the A\u2019s ace said he felt no ill effects from the strained trapezius muscle that put him on the shelf.<\/p>\n<p>Gray is scheduled to throw off the mound again Thursday, after which the A\u2019s will decide whether he\u2019ll make a minor league rehab start somewhere or simply throw a simulated game with the major league club before coming off the disabled list.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt definitely felt like the ball was coming out really well,\u201d Gray said before Tuesday\u2019s game against Minnesota. \u201cIt felt pretty free, nice and easy. Talking to the hitters, it seemed to be coming out real well with late life, which is kind of what I\u2019m trying to get back to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manager Bob Melvin liked what he saw from Gray, who last pitched May 20 before requiring a cortisone shot in the back of his neck. Melvin said the A\u2019s hadn\u2019t decided yet if Gray will fly with the team Thursday as it begins an eight-game road trip through Houston, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf he\u2019s gonna go pitch somewhere (in the minors) then probably not,\u201d Melvin said.<\/p>\n<p>Besides feeling good physically, Gray seemed to think he was in a good place from a pitching standpoint as well Tuesday. He\u2019s been working on his delivery with pitching coach Curt Young and bullpen coach Scott Emerson.<\/p>\n<p>For the previous month or so before he joined the DL, Gray struggled with command and consistency. How much of that is tied directly to his health is the big question.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know my body feels really good now, and there\u2019s a little more rhythm in my delivery. I can feel that for sure,\u201d Gray said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that me, Curt and Emo had worked on. It gets me a little more rhythm, a little more momentum toward the mound. I definitely feel a difference in that. I just feel like the ball is coming out like it always has.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>**<\/p>\n<p>Rich Hill, who left Sunday\u2019s start with a mild groin strain, will throw his bullpen session Wednesday morning, and Melvin thinks that will be a good indicator of where the A\u2019s will slot Hill back into the rotation. The team is currently listing Hill as starting Saturday at Houston, but Melvin has indicated Hill could be pushed back another day or so.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe feels better today. He had multiple treatments yesterday and today,\u201d Melvin said. \u201c\u2026 He has an aggressive delivery, so we\u2019ll have a pretty good idea when he\u2019s throwing off the mound\u201d of when he\u2019ll make his next start.<\/p>\n<p>**<\/p>\n<p>In one last bit of pitcher injury news, Melvin said reliever R.J. Alvarez looked good facing hitters for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery in spring training. Alvarez will make a rehab appearance with Single-A Stockton on Friday.<\/p>\n"
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Athletics

Athletics

OAKLAND — Sonny Gray threw a roughly 50-pitch session Tuesday with hitters standing in, and the A’s ace said he felt no ill effects from the strained trapezius muscle that put him on the shelf.

Gray is scheduled to throw off the mound again Thursday, after which the A’s will decide whether he’ll make a minor league rehab start somewhere or simply throw a simulated game with the major league club before coming off the disabled list.

“It definitely felt like the ball was coming out really well,” Gray said before Tuesday’s game against Minnesota. “It felt pretty free, nice and easy. Talking to the hitters, it seemed to be coming out real well with late life, which is kind of what I’m trying to get back to.”

Manager Bob Melvin liked what he saw from Gray, who last pitched May 20 before requiring a cortisone shot in the back of his neck. Melvin said the A’s hadn’t decided yet if Gray will fly with the team Thursday as it begins an eight-game road trip through Houston, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.

“If he’s gonna go pitch somewhere (in the minors) then probably not,” Melvin said.

Besides feeling good physically, Gray seemed to think he was in a good place from a pitching standpoint as well Tuesday. He’s been working on his delivery with pitching coach Curt Young and bullpen coach Scott Emerson.

For the previous month or so before he joined the DL, Gray struggled with command and consistency. How much of that is tied directly to his health is the big question.

 

“I know my body feels really good now, and there’s a little more rhythm in my delivery. I can feel that for sure,” Gray said. “It’s something that me, Curt and Emo had worked on. It gets me a little more rhythm, a little more momentum toward the mound. I definitely feel a difference in that. I just feel like the ball is coming out like it always has.”

**

Rich Hill, who left Sunday’s start with a mild groin strain, will throw his bullpen session Wednesday morning, and Melvin thinks that will be a good indicator of where the A’s will slot Hill back into the rotation. The team is currently listing Hill as starting Saturday at Houston, but Melvin has indicated Hill could be pushed back another day or so.

“He feels better today. He had multiple treatments yesterday and today,” Melvin said. “… He has an aggressive delivery, so we’ll have a pretty good idea when he’s throwing off the mound” of when he’ll make his next start.

**

In one last bit of pitcher injury news, Melvin said reliever R.J. Alvarez looked good facing hitters for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery in spring training. Alvarez will make a rehab appearance with Single-A Stockton on Friday.