Gray stellar in rehab start

ANAHEIM — While the A’s wait to determine Sean Manaea’s status, they got terrific news about another of their starters.

Sonny Gray worked six scoreless innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Nashville on Thursday and appears on track to start for the A’s next week at Minnesota.

Manaea, meantime, is something of a question mark after leaving Wednesday night’s game after two innings because of shoulder tightness. He got treatment Thursday and said he felt better. The team will know more once Manaea plays catch Friday at Houston.

The A’s have not scheduled an MRI exam, but Manaea said he had gotten some strength tests on the shoulder and there were no indications of trouble. “The strength is there; it’s just a little tight,” he said.

With an off day Monday, the A’s could skip Manaea one time through the rotation, and Gray’s expected return gives the team even more flexibility when it comes to pushing back Manaea.

Gray allowed two hits Thursday and struck out seven. He did not walk a batter. He threw 77 pitches, 54 for strikes, and according to Sounds radio announcer Jeff Hem, Gray’s fastball consistently registered 94 mph. New Orleans got just one batter past first base against Gray, who is from Nashville and still lives there in the offseason.

“I grew up coming to Sounds games. To wear this jersey was very cool,” Gray said via the Sounds on Twitter. “Everything kind of came full circle tonight.”

The most likely day Gray would start for Oakland is Tuesday, but given the team’s off day Monday, he could get an extra day if needed. The 2015 All-Star has been out since early March with a lat strain.

Briefly: Coach Mike Aldrete had a meting with the outfielders a day after poor throws allowed the Angels to take several extra bases . ... First baseman Matt Olson was optioned to Nashville to clear a roster spot for starter Kendall Graveman.