Orioles-Athletics preview

OAKLAND, Calif. -- At first glance, left-hander Wade Miley had a rough debut for the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday against the Texas Rangers.

Miley gave up four runs on eight hits, including a home run, and lasted only five innings in a 5-3 loss despite striking out five and walking none.

Sometimes looks can be deceiving.

"I actually thought he threw the ball real well," Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said Monday before Baltimore's 3-2 loss to the Oakland A's. "Our defense didn't play as good as it normally plays. He hasn't seen that yet. He'll get high expectations like I do of our defense once he pitches for a while.

"I thought they only should have scored two of the runs that they scored. Then he got the ball off of his Achilles that he had to come out of the game with. He threw the ball well. His tempo was great, which was really refreshing. He mixed in his off-speed (pitches), all three of them. I thought his fastball command was fine."

Miley, who came to the Orioles on July 31 from the Seattle Mariners in a trade for left-hander Ariel Miranda, will make his second start for Baltimore on Tuesday night against the A's and rookie right-hander Zach Neal (1-1, 5.25 ERA).

Miley (7-9, 5.08 ERA) has been traded three times, but the first two trades came during offseasons. This time, he has to adjust on the run, and so does Wieters.

"You've got to talk as much as you can before the start, but you gain a lot of knowledge that first start and you keep adding," Wieters said. "It takes a while to really get locked in, but at the same time, you've got to make sure that you continue to understand what he likes to do each start a little bit more, a little bit more."

Neal has made 10 relief appearances and just one spot start over four stints with the A's this season. However, Neal, who has been a starter throughout his minor league career, will get another chance to start for the A's because of a rash of injuries to starting pitchers, including Sonny Gray.

"The transition to the (bullpen) this year has been nice and something I got used to and familiar with, but what it comes down to is what they need me to do," Neal said. "So whatever they need is what I'll do. I've always started, so that's something that's familiar to me. and now the 'pen is familiar to me. too, which is good.

"I can do both. I think that brings some value. Whatever they need, I'll be ready to do."

Neal has not allowed a run in three relief appearances over 8 1/3 innings since his latest call-up from Triple-A Nashville on July 21.

"He keeps the ball down, has a sharp slider, fastball movement and he's locating a lot better than we saw earlier in the year," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

"He feels a lot more comfortable, looks a lot more confident on the mound. So yeah, he'll get an opportunity to start again and look forward to seeing what he has to offer."

Neal will be facing the Orioles for the first time. Miley will be looking to improve upon his perfect record against the A's: 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts, both last year.