Brandon McCarthy returned to action on Wednesday August 17.

Brandon McCarthy (knee) is on track to make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Orioles. As expected. McCarthy was forced to leave Friday's start against the Rangers after being hit on the right knee with a comebacker. While it looked bad at first, he was diagnosed with a contusion.

Brandon McCarthy was diagnosed with a bruised right knee. While fantasy owners surely aren't pleased that he allowed seven runs (five earned) over 3 1/3 innings before leaving Friday's game, at least he managed to avoid serious injury. It's very likely that he won't even have to miss a start.

Brandon McCarthy left Friday's start against the Rangers in the fourth inning after being hit near the right knee with a comebacker off the bat of Endy Chavez. It looked bad when McCarthy went down in a heap on the mound, but he was able to walk off the field on his own with only a minor limp. He allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings before being replaced by Trystan Magnuson. Stay tuned for an update on his status.

Brandon McCarthy struck out nine and walked none as part of a win over the Twins Sunday. McCarthy yielded three earned runs on eight hits over six innings to earn his fourth victory of the season. It's a career-high in strikeouts, but the pinpoint control isn't a surprise. McCarthy has walked just 16 batters in 100.2 innings this season. When he's pitching at home, McCarthy is well worth a spot-start in fantasy.

Brandon McCarthy tossed eight innings of one-run ball in a victory against the Rays on Tuesday. He struck out three and walked two, giving up six hits. The only blemish on his record was a Ben Zobrist homer in the eighth inning. It broke a streak of three consectuve non-quality starts for the right-hander. McCarthy improved to 3-5 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He gets the Twins on Sunday.

Brandon McCarthy picked up just his second win Friday after allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Angels. It got hairy after McCarthy left a 4-1 game in the sixth, as Michael Wuertz walked all three hitters he faced, pushing across the second run charged to McCarthy. The A's, though, were able to get out of the inning on top 4-3 and the bullpen held the fort from there. McCarthy is now 2-5 with a 3.64 ERA in 12 starts.

The Athletics will start Brandon McCarthy, Rich Harden, Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez in the first four games after the All-Star break. Harden and Cahill will go in Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels. Gonzalez made the All-Star team and thus won't make his first post-break start until Sunday.

Brandon McCarthy yiedled five runs in six innings Saturday in a no-decision against the Rangers. Colby Lewis had the same line, allowing five runs -- four earned -- in six innings, but McCarthy still had a chance to win when the A's scored a run in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as Andrew Bailey coughed up the lead in the ninth. McCarthy enters the All-Star break 1-5 with a 3.66 ERA.

Brandon McCarthy lost in his return from the DL after giving up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings Monday against the Mariners. McCarthy neither has luck when it comes to injuries nor when it comes to run support. The A's lost this one 2-1, so McCarthy is 1-5 despite a 3.33 ERA in 10 stats this season.