Lowrie (back) will serve as Oakland's designated hitter and No. 3 batter in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lowrie remained on the bench for the fourth game in a row in the Athletics' 6-0 loss in the earlier contest due to a sore lower back, but manager Mark Kotsay said in advance of the doubleheader that the 37-year-old was available in a pinch-hitting capacity. The veteran will now get a chance to put an end to his absence in Game 2 and should fill a part-time role for Oakland moving forward.