(Sports Network) - Needless to say, former reliever Justin Duchscherer has made a smooth transition to the Oakland Athletics rotation. After a near no- hitter his last time out, Duchscherer will try to help his team rebound in the opener of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

Duchscherer, who spent the last four seasons in Oakland's bullpen, is 4-3 with a 2.16 earned run average through seven starts this year and no-hit Boston through 6 1/3 innings before yielding a single to David Ortiz on Saturday. It was the only hit the right-hander allowed, as he went a career-high eight innings and struck out four without a walk.

The 30-year-old has allowed more than two earned runs in just one of his starts this year. He is in his first starting role since making three of his four appearances with Oakland in 2003 as a starter.

Duchscherer also made two starts with Texas in 2001 and will start against his former club for the first time since 2003. In 22 relief outings and one start against the Rangers, Duchscherer is 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA and four saves.

The Athletics will try to give him some run support tonight, something they failed to do for Dana Eveland on Thursday. In a rubber match of a three-game series with Toronto, Oakland managed eight hits but failed to score in a 12-0 setback.

Eveland (4-4), coming off the first complete game of his career in his last outing, was rocked for seven runs on 11 hits in just 4 1/3 innings for Oakland, which finished 5-4 on its nine-game homestand. Jack Hannahan tallied three hits and Emil Brown added a double and a triple in defeat.

Before the game, the A's placed designated hitter Frank Thomas on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right quadriceps. Oakland also activated third baseman Eric Chavez, who had been sidelined with chronic back problems since August of last year, from the DL. Chavez took over the DH spot on Wednesday, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

Kevin Millwood is expected to return from a strained right groin to face the A's tonight, the club he last faced on May 10 before landing on the 15-day disabled list.

Millwood, activated off the DL during Texas' off day yesterday, lasted just two-thirds of an inning on that day, walking one before exiting with his injury. In his previous start on May 5, Millwood lasted just three innings and gave up seven runs en route to falling to 2-3 on the season.

The right-hander returns after throwing 65 pitches on Saturday in a simulated game at Cleveland's Progressive Field. In 11 career starts against Oakland, Millwood is 3-3 with a 4.29 ERA.

The Rangers lost two of three to Tampa Bay prior to this series, culminating with Wednesday's 5-3 loss. It was Texas' first series loss since being swept by Detroit in late April. The club had won eight series and split another before running into the Rays.

Milton Bradley drove in two runs for Texas, while Ian Kinsler went 1-for-3 to run his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games. He is hitting .283 (17- for-60) over that run with four homers, 13 RBI and 15 runs scored.

Kason Gabbard (1-2) absorbed the loss for the Rangers, allowing all five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and six walks over 4 1/3 innings.

Texas begins a 10-game homestand tonight.

The Rangers have won four of six versus Oakland this year and took two of three at home from the Athletics in early May.