If all goes well, the Oakland Athletics could have ace right-hander Sonny Gray back in the rotation by the end of the month.

Manager Bob Melvin told reporters, including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, that Gray is on pace to return in late April “or first of May, something like that.”

Gray, who began the season on the disabled list with a lat strain, will pitch three innings in an extended spring training game on Monday, and then likely go on a minor league rehab assignment.

Once Gray returns, the odd man out could be Jesse Hahn, who allowed three runs over six innings in a loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. Hahn moved into the rotation after Raul Alcantara was pounded for eight runs in two innings against the Rangers last week.

The 27-year-old Gray won a combined 28 games with a 2.91 ERA in 2014 in 2015, but he stumbled badly last season with a 5-11 record and a 5.69 ERA.

-- Doug Mittler