MESA, Ariz. — After throwing for the first time since being shut down this month, Josh Reddick said that his strained oblique muscle is feeling much better, making the Opening Night roster a realistic possibility for the right fielder.

Reddick played catch at a distance of 60 feet Saturday and, he said, “I didn’t feel anything — no pain at all when throwing or stretching. I’m hoping that’s a good sign.”

Reddick has not yet been allowed to swing a bat, but he did a small amount of rotational work during the A’s team stretch.

The outlook was also better for left fielder Coco Crisp (elbow) and first baseman Ike Davis (back); bench coach Mike Aldrete said both are expected back in a few days.

Closer Sean Doolittle is getting closer to throwing after being sidelined with a left shoulder strain. An ultrasound last week showed continued improvement and, Doolittle said, team doctors “really liked what they saw. Everything looks really solid, really intact, really strong. No inflammation.”

Doolittle’s next step will be sock throws, flinging a ball positioned inside a sanitary sock the length of the sock.

Starter Jarrod Parker (elbow reconstruction) threw to hitters Friday, facing three minor leaguers and throwing 20 pitches, fastballs and changeups.

“Everything looked effortless out of his hand,” catcher Bruce Maxwell said.

Parker’s next session throwing to hitters will be Wednesday, as he moves onto a real starter’s schedule, working every five days.

Briefly: Wondering why actor Will Ferrell didn’t wear white cleats when playing shortstop for the A’s on Thursday? His cleats are the one item of apparel from his day of playing every position throughout the Cactus League that will go to the Hall of Fame, so he couldn’t change them. ... Aldrete, subbing as manager in Mesa with Bob Melvin in Las Vegas, had former A’s players Rickey Henderson and Scott Hatteberg on his coaching staff Saturday, along with one of Melvin’s former Mariners, Bret Boone. ... Boone, who also helped the team as a minor-league instructor last spring, said he’d like to manage one day. He is busy working on his memoir, which will include chapters on his struggles with alcoholism. … Henderson was spotted racing Wyatt Bush, the 7-year-old son of hitting coach Darren Bush, up the stairs to the clubhouse — and he let Wyatt win. … The A’s first round of cuts will come Sunday. ... The A’s weren’t among the teams making an offer to Cuban infielder Hector Olivera this weekend, but they’re monitoring the situation.

Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser

Cubs 3, A’s 1; A’s 5, Giants 2

Notable: Cubs designated hitter and Las Vegas native Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer to right off Jesse Hahn, then added a solo shot to left-center off Evan Scribner in the sixth inning at Cashman Field. … Against the Giants in Mesa, Billy Burns had three hits, including a triple, and scored three runs. ... Jesse Chavez, in contention for a rotation spot, allowed two runs in the first, made an adjustment to stop rushing his delivery, and didn’t allow another run over the next 31/3 innings. … Niuman Romero, in camp as a minor-league free agent, got his first start at shortstop and had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. He also made a terrific diving play up the middle on a sharp grounder by Brandon Hicks in the seventh. “Unbelievable play,” acting manager Mike Aldrete said.

Quotable: “Boy, he made me look smart, didn’t he?”

— Aldrete on Burns’ fine day after Aldrete had praised him to the media Saturday morning

Sunday’s game: A’s at Brewers, 1:05 p.m. Radio: 95.7

— Susan Slusser