The Oakland Athletics reinstated catcher Kurt Suzuki from the disabled list and put right-hander Justin Duchscherer back on the 15-day DL yesterday, one day after his scheduled start was scratched because of recurring inflammation in his left hip.

Suzuki, a Baldwin alum, missed 19 games because of a strain in his ribcage. The team went 7-12 in the absence of their RBI leader from last season.

Meanwhile, the A's optioned backup catcher Josh Donaldson to Triple-A Sacramento.

Duchscherer is on the DL for the seventh time in his career, which began in 2001 with Texas.

After Saturday night's game, he met with reporters and sounded inconsolable.

"If I have to have surgery, I'm done for the year," Duchscherer said. "That's obviously not an option I want to explore unless it's absolutely necessary. I don't want to do it. It's very mentally draining."

ROYALS

KA'AIHUE OPTIONED

Kansas City Royals first baseman Kila Ka'aihue, an 'Iolani alum, was optioned back to Omaha yesterday.

He will be replaced on the 25-man roster by pitcher Bryan Bullington.

Since being recalled May 5, Ka'aihue had just four at-bats, including a single and an RBI.

BREWERS

P DAVIS SIDELINED

Brewers pitcher Doug Davis has been diagnosed with inflammation of the tissue surrounding his heart, a condition that is treatable but could keep him out about two weeks.

Jim Kleczka, a doctor at Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin, said Davis has pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart. Kleczka classified it as mild case that can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication.

Davis and Kleczka met briefly with reporters at Miller Park yesterday, after Davis was scratched from his scheduled start against Philadelphia. Davis said he woke up in pain Saturday and was worried that he was having a heart attack. He spent most of the day at the hospital.

NATIONALS

PROSPECT CALLED UP

The Washington Nationals yesterday designated right-handed reliever Brian Bruney for assignment and purchased the contract of reliever Drew Storen.

Storen, the 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, has been dominant in the minor leagues this season. He had four saves, a 1.12 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 16 innings for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He will join the team in St. Louis today.

Bruney was 1-2 with a 7.64 ERA in 19 games in the setup role.

Also, outfielder Willy Taveras was designated for assignment and outfielder Mike Morse was recalled from the disabled list.

ELSEWHERE

Yankees: Right fielder Nick Swisher was held out of the starting lineup against the Minnesota Twins yesterday. Swisher has been hampered by a sore left biceps and manager Joe Girardi wants the switch hitter to wait another day before he tries batting from the left side.