Holland not expected until September

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers need a fifth starter on Aug. 26, but it's not expected to be Derek Holland, who has been on the disabled list all season while recovering from offseason surgery on his left knee.

The Rangers are not expecting Holland to be back until September if at all. Holland made his fourth start on a medical rehabilitation assignment Thursday night in Round Rock and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches.

"That isn't ready," manager Ron Washington said. "Some of the runs they got off him, there were a couple of errors behind him that made him throw more pitches. Maybe his line would have been better and he would have pitched four or five innings. It didn't work out that way."

Holland will likely shoot for 85-90 pitches in his next outing. But the Rangers want to see him do more than build up his pitch count. He needs to get people out and dominate some Minor League hitters.

"We want him to do what he has to do," Washington said. "Derek will be down there as long as we need him down there."