ARLINGTON -- Rangers pitcher Shawn Kelley has been activated off the injured list.

The better news is the biopsy done on the lumps removed from his throat last week were benign.

“The doctor told me that the scary part is over,” Kelley said. “'Rest assured you are in good health. The bad stuff is ruled out.'”

Kelley, 35, started feeling the lumps at the beginning of the regular season, and they started really bothering him a couple of weeks ago. He was placed on the injured list on May 9, so he could undergo tests and examination.

The lumps were removed last Thursday, and the concern was they might be cancerous. That is not the case. Kelley has been throwing on the side while going through tests and waiting for results.

“I really felt everything was going to be OK, and a lot of it was precaution,” Kelley said. “But anytime you start talking about that stuff, it’s obviously scary when you think about it. It’s nice to have the peace of mind knowing you went about it the right way. Everything is good. It’s pretty exciting. I can get back to playing baseball.”

Kelley pitched the ninth inning of the Rangers' 5-3 victory over the Mariners. He gave up a home run to Omar Narvaez but still earned his third save of the season.

“I honestly had some butterflies out there for the first time in a long time,” Kelley said. “There were times along the way these last two weeks that I did wonder if I was going to pitch again or what would be the situation if there was something serious. I told them before the game that I’d do whatever they needed, didn’t matter the inning. I was just tickled to be back out there.”

In 15 games, including Tuesday, Kelley has a 1.80 ERA and 0.733 WHIP.

“You are never going to hear me complaining about having too much time off or not being sharp,” Kelley said.

He still has a scar on his neck and stitches inside. His only limitation is that he can’t look straight up right now.

“If there is a popup, I am going to need help,” Kelley said.

To make room for Kelley, the Rangers optioned left-hander Brett Martin to Triple-A Nashville.