Doolittle (triceps) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Monday, CSN's Joe Stiglich reports.

EDGE Analysis

Doolittle was "very happy" with Monday's session, which is encouraging for his prospects moving forward. His next step will be pitching in a minor league game Wednesday, and he is on track to be ready for Opening Day barring any setbacks over the remainder of the exhibition season.

Doolittle has been diagnosed with a strained triceps but is expected to be ready for Opening Day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sidelined since last Sunday, Doolittle's absence has been explained, though he's slated to throw off flat ground this Sunday, before progressing to minor league outings in the near future. The closer stated those games will be used to "hone his offspeed stuff," which he found difficulty doing before the injury. In three Cactus League appearances, the Athletics' closer has allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four in three innings.

Manager Bob Melvin commented that Doolittle looks like the "Sean Doolittle of the Past", reports Jane Lee of MLB.com.

EDGE Analysis

Many times, best shape of their life comments can be taken with a grain of salt in the spring, but with Doolittle, this one could hold some importance. Not only did he miss most of 2015 with a shoulder injury, but struggled with fastball velocity when he was able to return. Melvin even went so far as to call the difference from last season "night and day". Doolittle will enter the season as the A's closer and is a very solid option if he is in fact back to his prior form.

Doolittle enters spring training fully healthy and has been working on a new pitch, a split-changeup, reports Jane Lee of MLB.com.

EDGE Analysis

Doolittle was taught the pitch by his younger brother Ryan, also a reliever in the A's system. Doolittle has also been working on his slider as he tries to find some breaking pitches to mix in with his fastball. Doolittle enters the spring as the A's closer, but the team will be keeping an eye on his velocity in the spring to ensure that his shoulder is fully recovered.

At the A's Fanfest on Sunday, Doolittle indicated that has no more shoulder issues and that he will not be restricted at all this spring, John Shea of the San Francisco Chroniclereports.

EDGE Analysis

This is great news for the A's after a 2015 which saw Doolittle throw only 12 innings, almost all of which were late in the season. After one May outing where Doolittle's fastball velocity was way down, Doolittle went back to the DL, but did regain most of his velocity by the time he was back closing games in late September. Doolittle relies heavily on his fastball and as long as his velocity is back, he will open the season as the A's closer and hopes to get back to his 2014 form which saw him save 22 games while flashing a 12.8 K/9.

Doolittle struck out two in a perfect ninth inning en route to his fourth save in a 4-2 win over Seattle on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Doolittle had allowed eight hits and two walks over his previous four appearances, so the clean inning is a great sign. An even better sign is that he is approaching mid-90's with his fastball and that's crucial for a pitcher who uses fastballs as often as he does. Prior to the DL, he was barely cracking 90 and this increase in speed should bode well for next season.

Doolittle recorded his third save of the year Wednesday, a five-out affair during which he allowed two hits, a walk and a run against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't exactly a sharp outing for Doolittle, who gave up a Kole Calhoun homer in the ninth, but it was good enough. Perhaps he was a bit rusty, as he hadn't pitched since last Friday, when he also notched an extra-long save.

Doolittle came on in the eighth to get his second save in a 5-4 win over the Giants on Friday. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two across 1.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

The 38-pitch outing is very surprising to see for a pitcher who spent the majority of the season on the DL. In any case, he got the job done despite a shaky eight inning, in which he allowed all three of his base runners. The promising sign here is that the velocity was well above 90 and that's a big step, as Doolittle was living in the upper-90's last season in a breakout campaign.

Doolittle (1-0) earned the victory in a 4-2 win over the White Sox on Thursday, surrendering only one hit and striking out two in two innings.

EDGE Analysis

Doolittle suddenly found himself in position for the win in the bottom of the ninth after Billy Butler's three-run shot in the top of the frame, and the 28-year-old responded by retiring three straight after giving up a lead-off single. The veteran right-hander had previously been announced as a closer candidate for the remainder of the season by manager Bob Melvin, and has now notched a save and a victory over his last three appearances while blanking opposing batters in five of his last six trips to the mound.

Doolittle has been declared an option to close games for the A's down the stretch, CSN California's Joe Stiglich reports.

EDGE Analysis

Drew Pomeranz and Fernando Rodriguez are the other two options for the A's in the ninth inning. Manager Doug Melvin said the available mix of relievers would determine the closer on a game-to-game basis, but it certainly sounds like Doolittle could get a handful of saves down the stretch.