France is out of the lineup for Thursday's contest in Minnesota.

EDGE Analysis

France is just 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts over his last three games, so he'll get a day off to regroup. Luke Raley will make just his third start of the season at first base while France sits.

Vaughn went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk Wednesday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Vaughn collected multiple hits for the first time in his last seven starts, during which he's gone just for 5-for-25 with two doubles. He's gotten off to a slow start to the season overall by hitting .192 across 142 plate appearances and also has an inflated 26.1 percent strikeout rate.

Newcomb (knee) is slated to throw a simulated game Friday at the Athletics' minor-league complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran left-hander has yet to pitch this season due to knee irritation, but he's been in a throwing progression since the latter portion of April and appears set for the next step. If the sim game goes well Friday, Newcomb could potentially soon progress to what would project to be a fairly lengthy rehab assignment due to how long he's been sidelined.

Diaz went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Diaz drove in Colorado's third run of the game with an infield single in the bottom of the fifth and later added a two-run shot in the ninth to bring his team back within two runs of the Giants, though his effort would fall short. It marked the catcher's third multi-hit game already this month, and he's now hit safely in five of his last six contests. The home run was only Diaz's third of the season, though he's now batting .348 in May with four RBI and three extra-base hits.

Conforto went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Conforto jumped on a hanging four-seamer from Peter Lambert to lead off the second inning and crushed it over the wall in right field to open a six-run rally for San Francisco. The outfielder would later add a single in the same frame before finishing the contest with his third three-hit performance of the season. Conforto has now hit safely in four of his last five games, while the home run was his first since April 22. He's batting .269 in May with three RBI and three runs scored and has also drawn a walk in three straight contests.

Miller fired two perfect innings during which he recorded four strikeouts in the first game of a doubleheader against the Rangers on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Miller had last taken the hill May 1, so manager Mark Kotsay opted to give his closer some much-needed work with the Athletics up by five runs. The extended layoff didn't seem to faze Miller in the least, as he located 24 of 32 pitches for strikes in an relatively efficient showing. The hard-throwing right-hander lowered his ERA and WHIP to 1.10 and 0.67, respectively, in the process, and with the Athletics much more competitive than expected thus far, Miller's prospects for save opportunities over the long term are brighter than when the season began, despite the recent stretch of inactivity.

Toro went 3-for-5 with an RBI single, a double, a walk and two runs during a loss to the Rangers in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Toro continued to wield one of the hottest bats in the majors during the nightcap, bouncing back from an 0-for-3 showing in the matinee of the twin bill with his seventh multi-hit effort in the last nine games. Toro's strikeout rate during that stretch is a minuscule 7.1 percent, and his slash line now sits at a season-best .293/.351/.447 across 134 plate appearances.

Lambert (2-2) took the loss against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and no walks over three innings. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Lambert went 1-2-3 through the first inning before getting lit up for six runs in the second, beginning with a leadoff homer from Michael Conforto. The right-hander would allow another run on a Blake Sabol double in the third and wouldn't return to the mound for the fourth. The seven earned runs marked a season high for Lambert, and he's now allowed at least four runs in three of his last four starts. He's still looking for his first win since April 8 against the Diamondbacks, when he was working out of the bullpen.

De La Cruz went 0-for-4 with two stolen bases in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

After reaching base on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning, De La Cruz promptly stole second and third base, but the Reds couldn't bring him home. The 22-year-old phenom is up to 21 steals on the season, tops in the majors by a healthy margin -- second place is a three-way tie at 14 between Ronald Acuna, Brice Turang and Jose Caballero. De La Cruz has gone 0-for-15 over the last four games, but he still sports a .254/.356/.516 slash line on the season with eight homers, 19 RBI and 27 runs in 36 contests.

Schuemann went 3-for-7 with a double, two walks and two runs during Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Schuemann did the majority of his damage in the nightcap, when he got on base thrice via a pair of singles and a walk and came around to score twice. The rookie has now reached safely in five consecutive games, a stretch during which he 's lifted his batting average and on-base percentage to .216 and .348, respectively.