By placing starting pitchers Justin Duchscherer and Sean Gallagher on the 15-day disabled list, Oakland has now used the disabled list a team-record 23 times during the 2008 season. The previous mark was 22, set in 1992.

The two will be replaced in the starting rotation by Dana Eveland and Dan Meyer, who were called up from Triple-A Sacramento.

Duchscherer, whose stay on the DL is retroactive to Aug. 19, is being sidelined with a strained right hip. It's the same hip that he had season-ending surgery on last season.

"He's going to take some time off, get some treatment, and it's possible he'll pitch again in a couple weeks ... that's kind of what we're hoping for," manager Bob Geren said.

Duchscherer has been extremely solid for the Athletics this season in the starting rotation, posting a 2.54 ERA in 141 2/3 innings pitched. His ERA is currently the second-lowest in the Majors, but he has to pitch at least 20 1/3 more innings to qualify for the league leaders come season's end.

Geren said he talked to Duchscherer yesterday and that the pitcher was optimistic. Duchscherer also started treatment down at a clinic in San Ramon, Calif.

"It's hard to say if it was related to the surgery," Geren said. "But it was the same hip."

Gallagher's troubles have come from shoulder fatigue, and Geren said the plan for him is pretty straightforward.

"Sean's going to just shut it down, take some time off, so there's nothing really going on," he said. "Just the shoulder fatigue, the way it was diagnosed, just take some time off."

Geren said he was hopeful that Gallagher could make some more starts with five weeks left to go in the season.

Eveland, who has already started 22 games for the Athletics this season (7-8, 4.46 ERA) rejoins the rotation after going 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts in Sacramento. The addition of him and Meyer make the Athletics five-man starting rotation entirely composed of left-handed pitchers (Greg Smith, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden are the others).

That's only the second time in Athletics history that has occurred. It also happened back in 1973 with a four-man rotation led by their star, Vida Blue.

Eveland is scheduled to start on Saturday against the Mariners, while Meyer will take the mound on Sunday.

The injuries have hindered Oakland all season long, and the 23 players have missed a combined 693 games. At least four players have been on the DL every day since May 14, and seven currently hold that status.

It's especially stung lately, as the Athletics have gone 6-25 since the All-Star break.

"Obviously you have to look at each one of [the injuries] individually," Geren said. "We've had a wide variety."

There was also one other transaction on Thursday, as infielder Wes Bankston cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento.