Ogando Making Return From DL

So long, Ross Wolf. So long, Josh Lindblom. So long, Martin Perez — for the time being, at least.

Alexi Ogando is set to make his return from the disabled list on Wednesday in Boston after missing three starts with biceps tendinitis after a really solid outing against Oakland, when he threw five no-hit innings before running into a little trouble in the sixth and getting a lofty pitch count, forcing his exit.

If Ogando can continue pitching the way he had prior to the injury, it will be a big boost for the Rangers' rotation which will still be without No. 2 pitcher Matt Harrison and seasoned veteran Colby Lewis, who are both on the disabled list and are two months and a month away from returning, respectively.

Ogando is 4-2 with a 3.08 ERA in his nine starts this season. He picked up a win against the Red Sox on May 4 in Arlington, going six innings and allowing just one run with four strikeouts and a walk. Now, the Rangers hope he can pick up where he left off.

"I expect him to pick up where he left off, probably with a bigger smile on his face," Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux told ESPN Dallas. "He was feeling pretty good about himself, but he had to battle through his last couple starts because of this. He still got through it. I'd just like for him to show the sharpness he showed in his bullpens and his rehab start."

In his only rehab start last week, Ogando went six scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco, but he's averaged just 90 pitches in his big-league starts this year and has routinely hit a wall in the sixth inning, pitching out of the sixth just twice this year.

"He is capable of going longer and deeper," Washington said. "It['s] just the circumstances of the ballgame that cause that. They'll be a time before it's all over with that you'll see him go further than that."

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After Justin Grimm's poor outing on Tuesday to open a 20 games-in-20 days stretch, the Rangers could certainly use a good performance and a deep outing from Ogando in his return on Wednesday.

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