A's set rotation for stretch run

SEATTLE -- The A's have set their rotation for this week's three-game set against the Rangers, which opens at O.co Coliseum on Tuesday, lining up their starters through the remainder of the season and potentially beyond.

Scott Kazmir, Jeff Samardzija and Sonny Gray will face Texas, pushing Jason Hammel to the end of the line. This allows the A's to start Gray, rather than Hammel, the final game of the season, which could ultimately decide the A's postseason fate. It would be Jon Lester available for either a tiebreaking Game 163 or a one-game Wild Card playoff.

Samardzija and Kazmir have also flip-flopped, putting Kazmir in line to face the Rangers and Phillies and, not coincidentally, miss the Angels, who have knocked him around for a 27.00 ERA in two starts this season.

Kazmir, though, would be an option with Samardzija to start Game 1 of the American League Division Series, should the A's make it in for a third consecutive year. Gray and Lester would likely follow in order.