Jason Alexander (0-0, 18.00 ERA) makes his Astros debut against his former Athletics squad in the second of a four-game series. Alexander, called up from Triple-A on Monday after Lance McCullers Jr. went on the injured list , had been claimed off waivers last month by Houston. He will start against JP Sears (5-5, 5.08).

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The next man up hopped into a rental car Monday and made the two-hour drive to join a Houston Astros team delving into whatever rotation depth it can muster. Jason Alexander was finishing a series in Reno with Triple-A Sugar Land when the Astros summoned him in the wake of another pitching injury.