Brett Anderson could return on Thursday

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Brett Anderson says that he should be able to return to the team when first eligible to be removed from the disabled list. That would mean he could return as early as Thursday.

It is not evident where Anderson will slot into the rotation, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. It's possible that he could take Dan Straily's rotation spot. Straily is currently scheduled to start on Friday and was originally called up after Anderson was placed on the disabled list.

Jarrod Parker has been dealing with a neck strain, but the Athletics still believe he is able to make his next start. That would fall on Sunday, when the team has yet to announce who will be the starter.

Anderson, 25, has been on the disabled list since May 1 with an injured ankle. He was scratched from a start the day before, but was called in to pitch over five innings when the game went deep into extra innings.

Getting Anderson back will be just the first step to getting healthy for a team that lost Josh Reddick earlier Wednesday. Oakland also has Coco Crisp, Scott Sizemore, and Chris Young out for an extended period.