Oakland Athletics right-hander Joe Boyle (back) allowed four runs on four hits while walking four and striking out three in 2 1/3 innings in his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday. He threw 25 of his 43 pitches for strikes and averaged 100.1 mph with his four-seam fastball, which he threw 28 times. Manager Mark Kotsay said that Boyle feels like he has "turned a corner" with his back injury, which put him on the 15-day injured list on May 6. The 24-year-old didn't even record an out in his first rehab start last week, so Wednesday's outing was definitely an improvement. The A's are probably going to have Boyle make another rehab start or two, but the hard-throwing right-hander is nearing a return. Boyle had struggled in seven starts before his back injury cropped up, posting a 7.16 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with 29 K's and 23 walks in 27 2/3 innings for the A's.

Things could have gone better for Oakland Athletics right-hander Joe Boyle (back) in his minor-league rehab start on Thursday for Triple-A Las Vegas. Boyle was unable to record a single out in the outing, allowing three hits and four earned runs while walking two and striking out none to take the loss against Triple-A Tacoma. The 24-year-old threw only 26 pitches, with only half going for strikes. Boyle didn't encounter any setbacks with his back, but he's going to need to show more efficiency in another rehab start before he's an option to return to the big-league roster. He wasn't very good in seven starts (27 2/3 innings) with the A's this year before landing on the injured list, either, going 2-5 with a 7.16 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with 23 walks and 29 strikeouts. Control has been a real issue, as his four wild pitches lead the league.

The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Joe Boyle (back) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a lower-back strain and recalled left-hander Hogan Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Boyle heads to the shelf a day after giving up four runs while walking three in an inning to take his fifth loss of the season on Sunday versus the Miami Marlins. The poor outing dropped the 24-year-old to 2-5 on the year with a 7.16 ERA (5.07 FIP) and 1.73 WHIP with a league-leading 23 walks and 29 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings over his first seven starts. It's unclear who will replace Boyle in Oakland's starting rotation, but it could be Mitch Spence after he tossed 4 2/3 innings in relief of Boyle on Sunday after he left with his back injury.

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told right-hander Joe Boyle that he will be the team's fifth starter to open the season behind Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, JP Sears and Paul Blackburn. Boyle will throw in Arizona against Double-A hitters on Wednesday as his final tune-up before making just his fourth major-league start. In his first three MLB starts with Oakland last year, Boyle allowed just four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 15 in 16 innings pitched. The 24-year-old has a history of wildness, though, as evidenced by his 15 walks in 18 1/3 Cactus League innings this spring. The 6-foot-7 hurler throws gas but will need to command it in order to have success and remain in Oakland's rotation for the long haul. At best, he's a waiver-wire pickup in AL-only leagues.