CHICAGO -- The A's activated outfielder Matt Joyce from the 10-day disabled list on Friday before the doubleheader against the White Sox, and they optioned outfielder Jake Smolinski to Triple-A Nashville.
Joyce was batting .196 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs in 55 games when he was placed on the DL on June 6 (retroactive to June 3) with a lumbar strain. He began a rehab assignment with Nashville on Monday, and he went 6-for-12 (.500) with two doubles and two walks in three games, including two in left field and one at designated hitter.
Joyce arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field about two and a half hours before the first pitch of Game 1.
"Obviously, he's been a big part of our lineup," manager Bob Melvin said. "Maybe not the year he envisioned up to this point, but we feel like he's swung the bat a lot better than his numbers would suggest. He had a couple of hits the last couple of games, and he's healthy again."
Joyce wasn't in the lineup for the first game; Melvin said he'll start the second game.
The 33-year-old left-handed hitter has made 38 starts this year, all against right-handed pitchers. Joyce leads American League pinch-hitters in doubles (3), extra-base hits (4) and plate appearances (15), and he's tied for the lead in hits (5) and home runs (1).
Smolinski was recalled from Nashville on June 10, and he went 1-for-5 (.200) in four games. He was on the A's Opening Day roster, and he hit .118 with two RBIs in 16 games before he was optioned to Nashville on May 16. Smolinski is batting .128 with no home runs and two RBIs in 20 games overall.
Other injury news
• Left-hander Ryan Buchter was scheduled to pitch for Nashville on Friday. He's been sidelined since late April with a shoulder strain, and he could be activated during the three-game series at Detroit beginning Monday.
"If all goes well today," Melvin said, "he'll be ready in Detroit."
• Brett Anderson (left shoulder strain) is scheduled to make a rehab start on Saturday for Nashville. The left-hander is expected to throw approximately four innings and 60 pitches.
• Third baseman Matt Chapman is day to day with a right thumb contusion.