Athletics' Scott Alexander: Rehab assignment close

Alexanders (ribs) is tracking toward starting a minor-league rehab assignment sometime next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Alexander has been on the shelf since mid-March after being diagnosed with a left rib stress reaction. The veteran southpaw will probably make a handful of rehab appearances before being activated, but since he's a one-inning reliever, he won't require an extended ramp-up period.