ARLINGTON -- The Rangers aren't sure whether right-hander Andrew Cashner will join their rotation when his turn comes up on April 15, and they don't intend on rushing him.
That's the first game the Rangers will need a fifth starter, and Cashner is still recovering from a biceps issue that set him back during Spring Training. He threw three scoreless innings on Friday night against the Royals, but he still needs 2-4 more outings before he will be fully recovered.
"If he feels he's ready, we feel he is ready and the trainers feel he's ready, we'll see," pitching coach Doug Brocail said. "I'm not optimistic. I want to make sure when we get him back, we get him back for a full year. No setbacks. I don't want to look back and say, 'I wish.'"
Cashner threw 30 pitches on Friday and another 20 afterward. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Wednesday that could get him up to 60 pitches. The next step would be a start on April 10 in the Minor Leagues on medical rehabilitation assignment. That would likely be a 75-pitch outing, after which the Rangers would decide if Cashner is ready to pitch in the big leagues or needs to stay on rehab assignment.
"I'm in no rush, I'm going through the same progression as everybody else," Cashner said. "It's a long season, better to go through a slow process."
Dillon Gee and Nick Martinez, who have both been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock, are the leading candidates to step in as fifth starter if Cashner isn't ready.
Tyson Ross, who will start on the DL while finishing his recovery from offseason right shoulder surgery, is scheduled to throw a sim game on Sunday. The next step for Ross would be a rehab assignment.