OAKLAND -- The Rangers are setting up their rotation so that Martin Perez and Cole Hamels can pitch on regular rest.
Perez is scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Astros, provided the two teams are able to play that three-game series somewhere besides flooded Houston. Right-hander Andrew Cashner is being pushed back to Wednesday, and then the Rangers are planning to bring Hamels in for the finale against the Astros on Thursday.
"That's where we are at right now," manager Jeff Banister said, acknowledging the weather and travel situation could impact that plan.
Hamels missed two months earlier in the season because of a strained right oblique and is 7-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 12 starts since his return on June 26. The Rangers had some restrictions on him when he first returned, but that is no longer the case.
"Since the All-Star break, when we have taken him out, it's been because of how he feels physically, number of pitches or where we are in the lineup," Banister said. "It hasn't been because of a [specific] pitch count."
Hamels had won four straight starts before allowing six runs in 4 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to the Athletics on Saturday. It was the Rangers' second straight loss in Oakland.
"Sometimes that's the tough part about baseball," Hamels said. "You want to have good series and good games and try to put something together in the end that's exciting. It's a matter of getting back out there and getting a 'W' for the team."
Rangers beat
• Left-handed reliever Jake Diekman is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. It will be his fifth outing of his rehab assignment, as he finishes his recovery from three abdominal surgeries this year. He is expected to be activated in September.
• Matt Bush, on the disabled list with a sprained right knee, has started playing catch back in Texas. He has cleared the concussion protocol as the result of last week's collision with Joey Gallo.
• Keone Kela, on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, remains limited to light catch. He has not pitched in a game since Aug. 3.