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HOUSTON -- Oakland Athletics rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden, a Houston native drafted by his hometown franchise, will get an opportunity to show the Astros what theyre missing Friday at Minute Maid Park.Mengden (1-4, 3.48 ERA) will make his first career start against the organization that selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Mengden was packaged along with catcher Jacob Nottingham in the deal that sent veteran left-hander Scott Kazmir to Houston on July 23, 2015.Selected from Triple-A Nashville on June 11, Mengden will make his sixth start of the career. His 31 strikeouts are tied for second in franchise history (since 1913) for the most by a pitcher over his first five appearances (Tim Hudson, 33 in 1999). Mengden, a product of nearby Texas A&M, began the season at Double-A Midland and finished 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA before his promotion to Nashville on May 1.With the Sounds, Mengden went 3-1 with a 1.39 ERA in seven starts. His ERA was the sixth-lowest in the minors at the time of his promotion.And while Mengden will get the first crack at helping Oakland (37-49) make it two in a row over the Astros following the Athletics 3-1 win on Friday night, the Oakland bullpen will also play a key role.Right-handers John Axford, Ryan Dull and Ryan Madson combined to work three perfect innings in the series opener, with Axford first relieving lefty Ken Hill and notching two strikeouts in the seventh inning. Axford had struggled of late, blowing two saves while posting an 18.00 ERA over his last six appearances.That was great to see, Athletics manager Bob Melvin. Weve seen now how effective he can be. Hes gone through a little bit of a tough stretch, obviously. I think looking at his history hes had some stretches through the course of the season where he hasnt been as effective and he works hard to get through it, but I think this was a big game for him to pitch in a close game like that, get a 1-2-3 inning. He looked good.Right-hander Collin McHugh (5-6, 4.50 ERA) will make his 18th start of the season for the Astros. He allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings in his lone appearance against the Athletics this season but did not factor in the decision. McHugh is 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA in his career against the Athletics, a mark that includes six starts.While the Astros (46-40) will get an opportunity to improve to 12 games over .500 against right-handed starters, they fell to 11-16 against southpaw starters, a surprising record given the right-handed presence of George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa in their lineup.We can certainly hit left-handed pitching, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Weve got guys who can do it. Weve got a few guys hitting under their career norms, and thats never good. Halfway through the season, I dont think we can declare that we cant hit lefties. I think weve got some left-handed pitchers we arent racing up to the batters box to face. 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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Nicholas Baer arrived at Iowa in 2014 as a spindly walk-on who looked as though he might never be more than a practice body.These days, the Hawkeyes dont know what they would do without him.Baers 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season dont reflect how truly valuable he was. Baers versatility and energy off the bench were crucial as the Hawkeyes reached the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. There doesnt appear to be a starting spot for the 6-foot-7 Baer in 2016-17, but coach Fran McCaffery intends to lean on Baer for a boost as much as possible.Hell do a lot of the same things, but hell have an expanded role. Hell play more, McCaffery said Wednesday at the teams annual media day.That Baer blossomed into a Big Ten player in just two years is a testament to his work ethic and feel for the game.Baer posted an impressive resume in high school, earning first-team all-state honors as a senior for Bettendorf (Iowa) while averaging 15.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.5 assists. But Baer was just 185 pounds, and no school outside of Division II Northwest Missouri State offered him a scholarship.McCaffery saw something in Baer that few others did, inviting him to join the Hawkeyes with no promise of a scholarship.Baer redshirted in 2014-15. Last season, Iowa brought in a big freshman class to augment a roster with four senior starters -- leaving Baer almost no shot at playing time. Baer had to force his way into the rotation, which he has done in part by putting on 20 pounds since high school.Its been extremely difficult. Its been a long process for sure, Baer said. I feel stronger than ever, and I have more stamina to sustain that effort thats been successful for me.Baer raiseed some eyebrows in last seasons opener, hitting a pair of garbage-time 3-pointers in a blowout of Gardner-Webb.dddddddddddd A few weeks later, he had eight points off the bench in a win over then-No. 20 Wichita State.Bears breakout moment helped save the Hawkeyes from an embarrassing defeat to instate rival Drake. Iowa was sluggish until Baer came off the bench and scored 13 points with seven rebounds and six blocks to help the Hawkeyes escape 70-64.Baer was a key reserve the rest of the way, scoring 15 points in Iowas blowout loss to eventual national champion Villanova in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.Baers efforts were rewarded by the coaching staff this spring with a scholarship.It just shows what our program is about. He gives everything he has every time hes on the court. He has heart, Iowa forward Ahmad Wagner said.How much Baer will play for the Hawkeyes is up in the air with the season still a month away.Wagner and Dom Uhl figure to be the favorites to start in the frontcourt. Junior college transfer Dale Jones and talented freshman Tyler Cook -- who McCaffery said Wednesday had the highest ceiling of any recruit he has ever landed -- will likely get key minutes as well.But Iowas coaching staff has learned not to underestimate Baer, one of the players they know they dont have to worry about.He makes plays, he makes shots. He rebounds the ball, he defends and he plays both ends. He thinks the game through, McCaffery said. I mean, hes as professional as they come. So hes going to be a very important part of our team for the next three years.---Online: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '