A's place Kendall Graveman on DL with strained shoulder

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Kendall Graveman has been placed on the 10-day disabled list by the Oakland Athletics with a strained right shoulder.

Graveman started Opening Day in place of the injured Sonny Gray and began the season 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his first three starts. But he exited after just five innings and 74 pitches Friday against Houston, and manager Bob Melvin said afterward the pitcher couldn't get loose. Both Melvin and Graveman expected he would make his next start.

Graveman now thinks he'll only be skipped once.

"I think if we give it a couple more days then we'll be back to normal, back to where we need to be," Graveman said. "I expect to miss one start, and then come back on the road."

Instead, it's yet another key player down for the injury-plagued A's.

Oakland recalled catcher Bruce Maxwell from Triple-A Nashville on Monday to take Graveman's roster spot.

The A's were set to begin a series at home with Texas on Monday night after the series finale against