SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Andrew Cashner said he has had a good week of playing catch and throwing long toss without any problems in his right biceps area.
Cashner has been sidelined because of soreness in the biceps muscle and received a pain-relieving injection last week in Houston. He is expected to be re-examined by Dr. Keith Meister on Friday and that should determine the next step. He threw long toss from 150 feet on Wednesday.
• Spring Training info
"Everything is great," Cashner said. "No problems. I should get examined by the doctor on Friday and take off from there."
Cashner is still expected to start the season on the disabled list. He has yet to face hitters this spring and would likely need four to five outings in a game to build up to 75-90 pitches.
Scheppers still building up
Tanner Scheppers, who has been dealing with injuries for three years, has pitched three scoreless innings in Cactus League games. He has allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four. His velocity has been at 92-93 miles per hour, which is below normal for him, but manager Jeff Banister said he is still building up.
"His ratio of strikes has been better and his delivery has been more intact," Banister said. "I like Schepper's stuff. I like the little funkiness to his delivery that throws timing off. Scheppers pitches with an edge. For us it's being able to stay healthy. He hasn't been able to do that for awhile for a full season."
Rangers beat
• Yu Darvish is pitching on Saturday against the Reds in Goodyear. After the game, Darvish is expected to travel back to Texas where his wife, Seiko, is close to delivering the couple's third child.
• Mike Hauschild pitches Friday against the Angels in Surprise. A.J. Griffin pitches Friday and Dillon Gee pitches Saturday for two games against the Indians in San Antonio.
• Right-handed pitcher David Perez was one of 15 players released from the Minor Leagues on Wednesday. He was once one of the Rangers' top young pitching prospects, but he was derailed by elbow injuries.
• The Rangers also released infielder Alexeis Bell, a defector from Cuba who was signed last summer. It was a notable signing as Bell had played 14 seasons in the Cuban National Series.
• Pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez, outfielder Jared Hoying and catcher Brett Nicholas are participating in the second annual Arizona edition of Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids. The camp is put on by the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and allows children with physical challenges to have the opportunity to feel like a professional baseball player.