Season series: Rangers lead, 3-1

LHP Dana Eveland (3-2, 3.05 ERA): For the second consecutive game, Oakland starts a lefty against the Rangers. Eveland, who played at Hill College in Hillsboro, is coming off his best outing of the season. He went seven scoreless innings against Baltimore, allowing three hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Eveland has never faced the Rangers.

Update: Coming into Friday's game, Oakland led the majors with a .311 batting average with runners in scoring position. The A's were 15-0 when getting at least three hits with runners in scoring position.

RHP Kevin Millwood (2-3, 4.94 ERA): Millwood failed to pitch at least six innings in his last start, the first time that's happened this season. He gave up seven runs on nine hits in three innings. Millwood started the season with a 2.53 ERA in his first five starts, but he has a 9.98 ERA in his last three outings (17 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings) and has allowed four homers. He's 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA against Oakland in 10 career starts.

Loves to face: Bobby Crosby (0-for-7)

Hates to face: Frank Thomas (12-for-20, 2 HR, 6 RBIs)

Update: Manager Ron Washington said Gerald Laird will catch for Millwood tonight. Washington doesn't want to break up that battery combination. Laird has caught all but two of Millwood's starts (Adam Melhuse caught the others)

All games broadcast on KRLD-AM (1080) and in Spanish on KFLC-AM (1270)