Lowrie returns to lineup

HOUSTON — For once, the A’s had a lot of positive news on the injury front, from Jed Lowrie bouncing back quickly from a knee sprain to Kendall Graveman and Ryan Dull pitching to Chris Bassitt on the verge of starting a rehab assignment.

In addition, manager Bob Melvin said rookie third baseman Matt Chapman, who was hospitalized for four nights with a left knee infection, will resume baseball activity Friday when the A’s return home. He is unlikely to come off the disabled list until early next week and might be sent to get in a rehab game or two at Class A Stockton this weekend if he comes through Friday’s workout well.

“He texts me every day,” Melvin said. “He says he feels great. He tells me he feels better than some of the reports I get sometimes. He’s laying in a hospital bed telling me he’s ready to play, so I take that with a grain of salt.”

Bassitt, who had Tommy John surgery last year, had been blazing through his first rehab assignment when he was shut down in late May following a setback. He will throw an inning at Stockton on Wednesday, Melvin said. Oakland is likely to proceed with extra caution with the starter this time around.

Lowrie, who twisted his right knee during an at-bat Friday, didn’t play Saturday but hit a pinch-hit double Sunday. He had an MRI exam Monday that showed no issues, then was 2-for-5 Tuesday.

Graveman, the A’s Opening Night starter, is on the DL for the second time this season with a shoulder strain and has been out for more than a month. He threw a flat-ground session Tuesday in Oakland, as did Dull, who has been on the DL with a right knee strain since May 20, so both are close to throwing off the mound.

Jharel Cotton, who exited his Friday start after six innings with a blister, threw long toss Tuesday and Melvin said it hasn’t been determined yet if he will make his start Thursday or if he will be pushed back to Friday or Saturday.

Shortstop Marcus Semien, who was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI as the DH for Stockton on Tuesday, is expected to get 35-50 at-bats on his rehab assignment as he returns from a wrist injury. He’s likely to head to Triple-A Nashville this week.