Rangers reshuffle rotation with Tepesch sidelined

ARLINGTON -- Rangers starter Nick Tepesch is still not completely over the problem in his left knee, and thre Rangers have pushed him back in the rotation. He was supposed to start on Friday against the Indians, but the Rangers are going to start Jerome Williams instead, followed by Miles Mikolas on Saturday and Yu Darvish on Sunday.

Tepesch last started on Saturday against the Athletics, but he had to come out of the game in the seventh inning because discomfort in the left knee. The Rangers still don't think the injury is serious, and they are not planning to put Tepesch on the disabled list.

"He took himself out of his last start, so we're not going to rush him back," manager Ron Washington said. "He'll miss one turn and be back."

Tepesch played catch on Wednesday and is hoping to have a bullpen session on Friday.

"I would say [the knee] is close, but I wouldn't say it is 100 percent," Tepesch said.

Williams, called up from Triple-A Round Rock, started against the Athletics on Friday and allowed one run in six innings. The Rangers originally considered pitching Darvish on Saturday on his normal four days' rest. But with the Rangers off on Thursday, they are going to use that to give all of their starters extra rest.