The Texas Rangers will send left-hander Derek Holland to the mound as the Rangers return home for the opener of a key series against an Oakland squad that is four games back in the AL West race. Here’s a look at the pitching matchup between Holland and A's RHP Dan Straily.

Straily (2-1, 4.13 ERA): Straily will make his sixth start of the season and third since his most recent call-up from Triple-A Sacramento. His last start came Sept. 16 against the Orioles, when the he gave up four runs in a loss. Prior to that, though, he had won four straight outings. ... The rookie will be making his first start against the Rangers. ... He is one of four rookies in an extremely young Oakland rotation. After Monday, the A’s will have 79 rookie starts this season, the fourth most in club history.

Holland (11-6, 4.22 ERA): The 25-year-old will make his 26th start of the season. He gave up two runs off six hits in his last outing, picking up his 11th win in a 6-2 win over the Angels. ... In the past two years, he’s been impressive as the season progresses, going 6-0 with a 2.19 ERA in nine September starts. ... Holland has worked at least seven innings while allowing two or fewer runs in his past four starts. He’s the fifth lefty to do that in Rangers history. ... He faced Oakland once this season on June 5, giving up three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a win before hitting the disabled list for one month with shoulder fatigue. His last meeting with the A’s at Rangers Ballpark was a complete game shutout in July, 2011.

Hitters: Straily has yet to face anyone in the Texas lineup. ... The A’s have had little success off Holland, with Cliff Pennington, Daric Barton, Jemile Weeks and Coco Crisp combining to go 5-for-44 against the lefty.