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05/07/2008 2:22 AM ET
Harden dominates in rehab start
Right-hander strikes out nine over six innings in final tuneup
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
Rich Harden has appeared in just 18 games for the A's since the start of the 2006 season. (Ben Margot/AP)

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OAKLAND -- A's right-hander Rich Harden was dominant in his final Minor League tuneup Tuesday, striking out nine without a walk -- he hit three batters -- and yielding three hits over six shutout innings in Stockton's 14-0 rout of Visalia.

Harden, who was 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain under his right shoulder blade, is penciled in to start for Oakland on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series at Texas.

Righty reliever Keith Foulke (neck) is scheduled to make his final Minor League rehab appearance on Wednesday at Stockton, and he's expected to come off the 15-day DL for Friday's opener in Texas. Outfielder Travis Buck (shin splints) also has been on a rehab assignment and he, too, is expected to rejoin the team in Arlington.

That means the A's have several difficult decisions to make, and the one connected with Harden's return is a doozy. Oakland's rotation -- Opening Day starter Joe Blanton, veterans Chad Gaudin and Justin Duchscherer and newcomers Greg Smith and Dana Eveland -- has been tremendous while Harden has been out.

Manager Bob Geren wanted no part of answering any question that might fuel speculation as to which current starter will be the odd man out. He wouldn't even say if the odd man out would be sent to the bullpen or to Triple-A to stay stretched out.

"There will be some very difficult decisions to make," Geren conceded Tuesday afternoon. "At this point, we're leaving all of our options open."

The A's likely will start carrying 12 pitchers once Foulke and Harden are activated, and if they decide to send a current reliever to the Minors, lefty Dallas Braden is the top candidate; Braden hasn't worked much for the A's, and he's been a starter for most of his Minor League career.

To make room for Buck, it's expected that outfielder Chris Denorfia will be sent down to get the regular playing time he hasn't been seeing in Oakland.

Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.