Andrew Miller

The Red Sox and Rangers wrap up a four-game series Thursday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington before the Sox head home to host the A’s. Andrew Miller will make his second start in as many outings for Boston, while Texas counters with 27-year-old Alexi Ogando, a surprising right-hander who has solidified the back of the Rangers’ rotation.

Miller (5-1, 4.99 ERA) has been used mostly in a relief role as of late, but he impressed as a starter last Friday against the Royals. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed one run on three hits while walking two and striking out three. The 5-1 win was Miller’s first since July 20. Miller has been a much more effective pitcher on the road, with a 3.98 ERA and .267 batting average against away from home and a 6.88 ERA and .366 batting average against at Fenway. Miller has allowed three of his five home runs at home.

The left-hander hasn’t had much of an advantage against left-handed hitting, but he has done well to recover from a shaky month of July. In six appearances last month, he posted a 6.28 ERA but pulled off a 3-1 record, mostly because the Red Sox scored at least 10 runs in three of his starts. However, at times even Boston’s top-ranked offense couldn’t bail out Miller, especially when he allowed seven runs on July 15 against the Rays and seven runs on July 26 against the Royals. Still, he’s rebounded to a 3.24 ERA in August.

Ogando (12-5, 3.30 ERA) got off to a strong start, but his performance has steadily declined throughout the season. The 27-year-old has never pitched a full season in the major leagues. He was used sparingly as a reliever in 2010. Ogando has started all 24 games he’s appeared in this season and opened the campaign with 13 straight shutout innings. The right-hander was brought back down to earth in his third start when he allowed three home runs to the Yankees on April 17.

August has been Ogando’s worst month so far this year, as he’s allowed 14 runs in 22 1/3 innings. Still, he’s managed to win his last two decisions thanks to the Rangers’ offense, which has scored at least five runs in three of his last four starts. Texas only managed two runs in Ogando’s last outing, a 3-2 loss against the White Sox on Saturday. Ogando allowed just two runs over seven innings, but Chicago broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth off Koji Uehara.

The Dominican Republic native has been far tougher on right-handed hitting this season, allowing a .203 average against righties, compared to .252 against lefties. Ogando has allowed 12 home runs, eight of which have come from left-handed hitters. The numbers show that offenses are hitting far better against Ogando when they see him for a second and third time. Fortunately for him, the Red Sox have only amassed nine total plate appearances against the right-hander. Marco Scutaro has the only hit off Ogando in three career plate appearances.

Red Sox vs. Ogando

David Ortiz (3 plate appearances): 0-for-2, 1 walk

Marco Scutaro (3): 1-for-2, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Darnell McDonald (2): 0-for-1, 1 strikeout

Carl Crawford (1): 0-for-0, 1 RBI

Rangers vs. Miller

Yorvit Torrealba (3 plate appearances): 0-for-3

Koji Uehara (2): 0-for-2, 1 strikeout

Ian Kinsler (1): 0-for-0