RHP Raul Alcantara continues to struggle at Globe Life Park. Alcantara gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings on five hits. The outing actually dropped his ERA in Arlington from 11.74 to 10.50. "He had good stuff again today," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "The home run (to Shin-Soo Choo) was his undoing, gave up a couple runs there and third start out. Not used to throwing that many pitches, but I thought he finished off on a good note. He was hitting 96 again. Whether he's a starter or reliever, he shows back in the mix with us."

RHP Raul Alcantara will make his third straight spot start Friday night at Texas. He'll fill in for RHP Jharel Cotton, who has been shut down for the season after dealing with right elbow soreness. Alcantara is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 8 2/3 innings in his past two starts. For the season, he is 1-1 with a 6.86 ERA in seven appearances, including three starts.

RHP Raul Alcantara (1-1) made a spot start on Saturday night against Texas in place of LHP Sean Manaea, who was a late scratch because a strained upper back. Alcantra allowed no runs on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts and two walks in a 1-0 victory. He lowered his ERA from 9.20 to 6.86.Alcantara made a spot start at Detroit on Monday and blanked the Tigers for 3 2/3 innings on two hits for a no-decision in an 8-3 A's victory. "He looks like a different guy," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Alcantara. "I think a lot of it had to do with how well he pitched last time. The command of the fastball is better. It looks to me like his split and slider are better, and he's pitching with a lot more confidence. It's good to see."

DETROIT -- Oakland A's right-hander Jharel Cotton was a late scratch with a right groin strain ahead of his scheduled start against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night at Comerica Park.Cotton has made 23 starts this season, going 8-10 with a 5.81 ERA. Cotton pitched five innings in his last start against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, collecting a win after giving up three runs on six hits.Raul Alcantara stepped in as the emergency starter. Alcantara is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five appearances, including one start, this season.

RHP Raul Alcantara pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in an emergency start at Detroit on Monday. He got the unexpected call after Jharel Cotton suffered a groin strain during warmups. Alcantara had only made two relief appearances since his September callup. "I was going inning by inning," he said through an interpreter. "Pitching one inning at a time and see how far I could go. It felt really good to throw 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball."

RHP Raul Alcantara was selected from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday and will pitch out of the Oakland bullpen. Alcantara, 24, was on the Athletics' Opening Day roster and was 0-1 with a 16.71 ERA in three outings, including one start. He was designated for assignment April 25 and outrighted to the Sounds four days later. Alcantara went 1-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 18 games, including three starts, for Nashville. He was on the disabled list with a strained right elbow from May 26 to July 28. "Raul's done a pretty good job in the bullpen," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Looks like his velocity's playing up a little more. Maybe that's a good fit for him, not having to establish multiple pitches, coming out of the bullpen throwing hard like he does."

Alcantara made his third start of the year in Single-A Stockton on Thursday as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery.

Alcantara threw 58 pitches over 3.1 innings and was able to strike out five. Before missing almost all of 2014, Alcantara was one of the A's top pitching prospects. The A's will likely be very careful with his innings for the rest of this year and hopefully have Alcantara ready to go for a full season in 2016 as a 23-year-old, likely starting in Double-A.

Athletics prospect right-handed pitcher Raul Alcantara was dominant in his second start for Double-A Midland, striking out seven while allowing five hits, one walk, and one hit batsman in 6 2/3 innings.

Alcantara got 12 ground balls and two popups to go with four fly balls, while preventing any line drives. Alcantara, who is the 5th youngest player in the Double-A Texas League, seems to be taking another step forward in 2014.

Athletics right-handed pitching prospect Raul Alcantara allowed only one run as he pitched eight innings in his Double-A debut.

Alcantara was acquired from the Red Sox in the 2011 trade that sent Andrew Bailey to the Boston. After struggling with a 5.08 ERA in the Low-A Midwest League in 2012, he put up a combined 3.11 ERA across 156 1/3 innings between Low-A and High-A. He will never be a high strikeout pitcher, but he walks very few batters. His fastball sits between 92-94, which he couples with a fading change-up and an average slider. Alcantara has the potential to be a solid #3 pitcher, and he could be in Oakland during 2014

Athletics optioned RHP Raul Alcantara to Double-A Midland.

The A's added Alcantara to the 40-man roster in November after he posted a 3.11 ERA and 124/24 K/BB ratio over 156 1/3 innings last season between Class A Beloit and High-A Stockton. He's arguably the team's best pitching prospect at this point.