When asked if Sean Doolittle’s rehab appearance Monday was an indication the left-handed reliever was progressing well, manager Bob Melvin smiled.
“You can’t get better than that, right?” he said.
Correct.
Doolittle (shoulder) struck out the side on 14 pitches (OK, technically nine pitches would have been more impressive) at Class-A Stockton in his second rehab appearance. The plan is for Doolittle to make his final rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Nashville, which will play at Omaha, and rejoin the A’s on a five-game road trip that begins Thursday in Tampa Bay.
Doolittle has been shelved since May 3 with a strained shoulder.
“If all goes well,” Melvin said, “he’ll be back with us on the road.”
Meanwhile, the return of two more relievers who are on the disabled list is not imminent.
Ryan Dull (knee) ran on a treadmill Tuesday, but has yet to throw off a mound since he was placed on the disabled list May 20. Bobby Wahl (shoulder), who was placed on the DL on May 24, has yet to play catch and has been limited to strengthening exercises.
“Unfortunately, this is probably going to be a while,” Melvin said of Dull. “Until he gets on a mound, we’re not sure when he comes back.”
Defense doesn’t rest: Third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who is the midst of a 0-for-25 slump that includes 11 strikeouts, has been a hit in the field. On Monday, Plouffe made three strong defensive plays, while going 0 for 3.
“When your bat’s not doing what you expect it to do, you’ve got to bring your glove,” Melvin said. “You can be productive on that end of it, too, and he definitely has. He’s going to come out of (his slump) … but it’s nice to come out with some tenacity on defense and make big plays.”
More injuries: OF Khris Davis was back in the lineup after leaving Monday’s game early with calf tightness. Melvin said Davis felt better, but he was the designated hitter Wednesday as a precaution.
OF Matt Joyce sat out Tuesday with a quadriceps strain, but he could come off the bench Wednesday in the series finale against the Blue Jays.
Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch
On deck
Wednesday
vs. Blue Jays
12:35 p.m. MLB Net
Liriano (3-2) vs. Cotton (3-6)
Thursday
Off
Friday
at Rays
4:10 p.m. NBCSCA
Triggs (5-5) vs.
Cobb (4-5)
Leading off
All-Star balloting: Yonder Alonso is second among first baseman in voting for the AL All-Star team. Alonso, who has never been an All-Star, has 433,570 votes — 42,000 fewer than 11-time All-Star Miguel Cabrera of Detroit.
— Eric Branch
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