Will Workman in Oakland,

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OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Athletics closer Sean Doolittle is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season because of a slight tear to the rotator cuff in his left shoulder along with considerable inflammation and irritation in the area.Doolittle had a platelet-rich plasma injection last Friday in an attempt to decrease the inflammation and irritation before he begins rehabilitation under the direction of athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, assistant general manager David Forst said Friday. There is no timetable for Doolittles return, though doctors believe the left-hander will recover to pitch without needing surgery.He started experiencing soreness last month while beginning his regular off-season throwing program. When the discomfort remained through a few throwing sessions, the As sent Doolittle to their orthopedist in Arizona, Dr. Doug Freedberg. Doolittle had an MRI and, after consultation with Dr. Will Workman in Oakland, they diagnosed the rotator cuff tear and other issues. Then the pitcher had the PRP shot.Neither doctor in this case believes surgery is warranted, Forst said. Both of them, and Nick, believe Sean pitched with this for some amount of time last season and all are confident he can do so again once the inflammation is gone and his strength returns.The 28-year-old Doolittle made his first All-Star team last season. He went 2-4 with a 2.73 ERA and 22 saves in 61 appearances as Oakland reached the playoffs for the third straight year. He became the closer after 2013 AL saves leader Jim Johnson began the season in the ninth-inning role, struggled and was eventually released.Doolittle spent Aug. 24 to Sept. 12 on the disabled list because of a strained right intercostal muscle.Last April, Doolittle was rewarded with a five-year contract worth $10.5 million. He has been a reliable member of Oaklands bullpen since converting from first base late in the 2011 season. TAMPA, Fla. -- Masahiro Tanaka could make his first regular-season start in the New York Yankees third or fourth game. The Yankees complete a three-series at Houston on April 3, then have a day off before a three-game set at Toronto. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Friday "I think thats pretty safe to say" the Japanese right-hander will start game three or four. Tanaka is to make his first spring training appearance Saturday against Philadelphia at Steinbrenner Tanaka and fellow Japanese right-hander and Hiroki Kuroda are to follow starter CC Sabathia. Each is expected to throw two innings or about 35 pitches. "I understand theres going to be a lot of attention on the results, the numbers of how I do out there," Tanaka said through an interpreter.dddddddddddd "But for me, Im not looking at it at all. I just wanted to go out there and pitch my style. I just want to see how the batters react." Tanaka signed a $155 million, seven-year contract in January. He was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year while leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to their first Japan Series title. NOTES: Closer David Robertson threw 22 pitches in his second batting practice session. ... Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson arrived at camp, where he is a spring training instructor. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '