O'Flaherty threw live batting practice Monday after missing eight days with a sore elbow, Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan reports. He's coming off Tommy John surgery, but he posted a 2.25 ERA in 20 innings before getting shut down, so he could be a weapon out of the bullpen in the postseason if he's deemed healthy.

O'Flaherty allowed two hits and one earned run in one inning of work on Friday night. The main takeover from his outing was that it occurred in the sixth inning. With Sean Doolittle activated off the DL on Friday, it is very clear that O'Flaherty's days in the mix at closer are done for now.

O'Flaherty blew his first save for the Athletics by coughing up a ninth inning home run to Tyler Flowers of the White Sox on Monday. O'flaherty has been either shaky or hurt since getting a chance to close games for the A's. The left-hander's overall numbers are good, but he's testing manager Bob Melvin's confidence in the ninth inning role. O'Flaherty is 1-for-2 in save opportunities and has given up a run in both chances.

O'Flaherty (back) will be available as the Athletics' closer Monday against the White Sox in Chicago, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports. O'Flaherty's back flared up last Thursday, but after completing a mound session Monday, he'll assume closing duties for the Athletics. Since landing the gig in late August, he's made three appearances, one of which he's turned into the first save of his career.

O'Flaherty (back) played catch Sunday and plans to throw off of a mound prior to Monday's game, Joe Stiglich of CSN reports. O'Flaherty's back tightened up during the team's off day Thursday, but he indicated that it's a problem he's experienced before, and it typically only lasts two or three days. He'll work off of a mound Monday in an attempt to test out the back, though manager Bob Melvin suggested O'Flaherty probably will not be available to pitch against the White Sox.

O'Flaherty picked up his first save for the A's after a shaky ninth inning, coughing up two hits, including a home run against the Astros. It was O'Flaherty, not Luke Gregerson, who got the save opportunity for the injured Sean Doolittle. The left-hander eventually shut the door after Chris Carter tagged him for a solo homer with two outs in the ninth. O'Flaherty might have made Bob Melvin a little nervous Wednesday, but it looks like he will act as Oakland's intirim closer.

Manager Bob Melvin hinted that O'Flaherty would be the fill-in closer in lieu of Sean Doolittle landing on the DL with an oblique injury, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports. Melvin said he wants to keep guys with regular roles in those roles, meaning that Luke Gregerson and Ryan Cook will probably remain in setup roles. O'Flaherty has a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings out of the bullpen this season, and has a 2.79 ERA for his career, so assuming the A's beat writers are correct in assuming O'Flaherty will get the save opportunities, he's a worthwhile add in most formats.

O'Flaherty will be utilized in back-to-back contests going forward, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2013, O'Flaherty made his way back to a major league mound in early July. In 14 appearances in the meantime, he's been on point, posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.825 WHIP, and 12:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings.

Athletics activated LHP Eric O'Flaherty from the 60-day disabled list. O'Flaherty posted a 3.86 ERA with eight strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment. The left-hander should be a nice addition to the A's bullpen if he has regained his pre-Tommy John surgery form.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that "there's a chance" Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) will be activated from the disabled list on Thursday. Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, O'Flaherty has posted a 3.86 ERA with eight strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment. He would be a nice addition to the big club's bullpen if he has regained pre-surgery form. The A's begin a six-game homestand on Thursday.