The Oakland Athletics get an opportunity to rebound from their losses the previous two days when they host the Texas Rangers for a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon to close out a four-game series.
The defending World Series champion Rangers have taken different paths in winning the first two games of the series. On Monday, they rallied for a 4-2 victory. They scored 10 runs in the second inning Tuesday and won 15-8.
The doubleheader features a matchup of two of the clubs’ top pitchers, followed by an intriguing duel of minor league call-ups in the nightcap.
Michael Lorenzen (2-1, 3.52 ERA) is scheduled to start the first game for Texas. He is 4-0 with an exceptional 0.29 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Oakland.
The 32-year-old right-hander will be making his fourth road start in five outings this year. He is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA away from home this season.
The A’s are expected to counter with left-hander JP Sears (2-2, 3.89 ERA). He threw 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk, in his latest start, a 3-1 home win over the Miami Marlins on Friday.
It was the third time this season he pitched at least six shutout innings in a start. Sears threw 6 1/3 shutout innings, giving up just one hit, in a 1-0 win over the Rangers on April 11. He is 2-1 with a 4.40 ERA in six career starts against Texas.
Right-hander Osvaldo Bido, who has never faced the Rangers, will make his first appearance of the season and first start with the A’s in the nightcap.
Bido signed as a free agent in the offseason after making nine starts and seven relief appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year. He earned the promotion to Oakland after throwing 12 1/3 scoreless innings in his latest two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, allowing five hits while striking out 15.
Bido might get more than one outing after A’s starter Joe Boyle was placed on the injured list due to a back injury he sustained in a Sunday loss to the Marlins.
“His last two starts have been really good,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Bido, 28. “He’s another guy our front office identified this offseason as someone that can provide depth as a starter or even as a bullpen guy.”
The Rangers promoted Jack Leiter (0-0, 17.18 ERA) for what the visitors hope will be a shot at a series sweep.
The 24-year-old right-hander made one similar emergency start for the Rangers on April 18. He was bombed by the Detroit Tigers for seven runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings in his only major league appearance.
Texas manager Bruce Bochy said the organization remains high on the son of former major league left-hander Al Leiter.
“He’s thrown the ball well,” Bochy said. “He’s in a good place with how he’s throwing the ball, location and everything. Good breaking ball. We know about the fastball. Looking forward to watching him.”
–Field Level Media
