Oswalt set to make first start with Rangers

Published Jun. 20, 2012 11:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

Roy Oswalt is ready.

At least he and and the Rangers think he is.

The veteran righthander will start his first game in a Rangers uniform on Friday at Rangers Ballpark against the Colorado Rockies, the club announced Wednesday.

Oswalt made four minor league starts since signing with the Rangers on May 29. His last start, Sunday for Triple-A Round Rock, was by far his longest. Oswalt went six innings, throwing 100 pitches (70 strikes), allowing six hits and two earned runs.

His longest minor league outing prior to that was four innings on June 7, his second start for Round Rock, when he allowed six hits and five runs.

Oswalt, a three-time All-Star, made only 23 starts last season for Philadelphia because of back trouble. He said after a start last week at Double-A Frisco that the back is no longer an issue and that he just needed to go deeper in his minor league starts before he could help the Rangers.

Following Oswalt's start Friday, Colby Lewis will start for Texas on Saturday followed by Matt Harrison on Sunday.

The Rangers will have to make moves to both the active and 40-man rosters to make room for Oswalt, but those decisions have not been announced.

Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire