The Athletics scratched Lowrie from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins due to lower-back tightness, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though manager Mark Kotsay said Lowrie will be available off the bench, the 38-year-old's poor track record of durability throughout his career means that the Athletics could play it safe and hold him out of the lineup beyond Sunday. Chad Pinder will step in as the Athletics' designated hitter in place of Lowrie, who can be viewed as day-to-day until he's cleared to make his next start.