ANAHEIM -- The Rangers haven't announced their starter for Saturday's game against the Mariners, but they are leaning toward having Andrew Cashner make one more start in the Minor Leagues.
"I think it would be wise, yeah," pitching coach Doug Brocail said. "If it happens to be too early and we hit a period where he goes down, it's not good for anybody."
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Cashner started the season on the disabled list while recovering from the biceps soreness that set him back in Spring Training. He threw five scoreless innings in an extended Spring Training game in Arizona on Monday and all the reports were good. Cashner, who threw 76 pitches in the outing, said he feels ready to go.
But he has not faced significant opposition. His outings have been in simulated, low Minor League or extended spring games. The Rangers see value in Cashner having one outing against a Triple-A team while getting his pitch count up to 90.
The Rangers' options include Triple-A right-handers Nick Martinez, Dillon Gee and Eddie Gamboa. All three have made one start for Round Rock. Martinez pitched five scoreless innings in his outing on Sunday, Gee allowed seven runs in four innings on Saturday and Gamboa allowed three runs in six innings on Monday.
Blyleven advice for Griffin
A.J. Griffin allowed two home runs in 3 1/3 innings in his first start against the Athletics last week. In his career, he has allowed 1.76 home runs per nine innings, which is the second highest since 1946 among pitchers with at least 400 innings pitched.
Bert Blyleven told him don't worry about it. That's a conversation they had in 2013 when Griffin was still pitching for the Athletics.
"He said, 'I'm in the Hall of Fame and I gave up a billion home runs," Griffin said. "As long as you throw strikes. If you're throwing strikes, you're going to give up home runs."
Blyleven gave up 50 home runs in 1986, which is still the Major League record for one season.
Rangers beat 
• Right-hander Tyson Ross, also on the disabled list, is scheduled for four innings and 60 pitches in an extended Spring Training game on Wednesday.
• Nomar Mazara had six RBIs against the Athletics on Friday and Joey Gallo had five on Sunday. The last time a team had two players age 23 or younger with a pair of five RBIs games in one series was the 1977 Expos with Andre Dawson and Ellis Valentine.
• Right-hander Connor Sadzeck threw five scoreless innings for Double-A Round Rock on Monday. He allowed one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out nine in his second outing of the season. In his first outing, he did not retire a hitter, walking four and allowing a hit among the five he faced.