ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Rangers decided they wanted to stick with a right-handed bullpen option, so they replaced injured reliever Alexi Ogando with righty Dustin Nippert.

Ogando has a strained left oblique muscle and can't pitch the remainder of the series. Nippert pitched in the ALDS and gives the club someone with bullpen experience.

“We needed a righty,” Washington said. “Nippert is a bullpen piece we’ve had down there all year.”

The Rangers felt more comfortable with Nippert in the bullpen over Scott Feldman, another right-handed option. The club already has lefties Derek Holland, Darren Oliver and Michael Kirkman in the bullpen, so they didn’t want another left-hander against the Giants.

Ogando retired his first five batters Sunday night before throwing his second pitch to Juan Uribe with two outs in the sixth inning. The slider was way outside and went to the backstop. Athletic trainer Jamie Reed, manager Ron Washington and pitching coach Mike Maddux came out to check on him.

“It started bothering me in my second inning and it got a little worse and a little worse and finally I really felt it pull on the last two pitches,” said Ogando late Sunday after Game 3. “I feel bad because it's at a point where I can't help the team anymore. Things happen that way sometimes, but it's disappointing.”

Ogando threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks in two World Series games.