Rangers face A's in doubleheader, seek 4-game sweep

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 of American League West rivals.

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.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (2-1, 3.52 ERA) is scheduled to start the first game for Texas. He is 4-0 with a 0.29 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Oakland.

The 32-year-old will be making his fourth road start in five outings. He's 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). He threw 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk, in his last start Friday at home against the Miami Marlins.

It was the third time this season he has 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 last month. 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.

Signed as a free agent in the offseason after making nine starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, Bido earned the promotion after throwing 12 1/3 scoreless innings in his last two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, allowing five hits while striking out 15.

Bido might get more than one start after A's starter Joe Boyle was placed on the injured list due to a back injury in Sunday's loss to the Marlins.

"His last two starts have been really good," A's manager Mark Kotsay said of the 28-year-old. "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 right-hander Jack Leiter (0-0, 17.18) for what the visitors hope will be a shot at a series sweep.

The 24-year-old made one similar emergency start for the Rangers in April and was bombed by the Detroit Tigers for seven runs 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 New York Mets 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."