ARLINGTON - Veteran right-hander Kyle Lohse is finally getting a chance to start for the Rangers and will pitch against the Twins on Saturday night.
Lohse will replace Nick Martinez, who was optioned to Double-A Frisco after the Rangers 6-5 victory over the Twins. Martinez was 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts and will start for Frisco on Saturday. The Rangers also optioned Chi Chi Gonzalez to Triple A-Round Rock before the game.
"Two guys going down today, they are still in the mix," manager Jeff Banister said. "But we have to be better in that category. We're going to give Lohse the opportunity to come up here and give us the best professional start we can get."
Lohse, 37, was signed to a Minor League contract by the Rangers on May 14 and was 2-5 with a 5.06 ERA in 10 starts at Round Rock. He allowed three runs in seven innings in his last start against New Orleans on Saturday.
Lohse has spent 15 years in the big leagues with a career record of 147-141 with a 4.37 ERA in 455 games, including 416 starts. The Twins were his original team, pitching for them in 2001-06.