Tepesch scheduled to make start on Thursday

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are expecting pitcher Nick Tepesch to make his next start on Thursday despite having to leave his last start with a contusion on his right arm.

Tepesch, after facing just seven batters and throwing just 21 pitches, had to leave Saturday's game in the second inning after getting hit by Jesus Montero's line drive just above the wrist. The line drive drew blood, but did not do any structural damage and Tepesch was feeling good when he arrived at the Ballpark in Arlington on Sunday morning.

"It's kind of sore, but not too bad," Tepesch said after getting treatment. "I figured it would be a little more sore this morning, but I kept a compression on it. It feels pretty good other than being a little stiff."

This is not the first time Tepesch has had to deal with the effects of getting hit by a line drive. He got smacked near the right elbow by a line drive in college while pitching for the University of Missouri.

"I had to come out after the first inning, but I still made my next start," Tepesch said.

Tepesch played catch on Sunday. A bigger test will come on Monday when he's scheduled to have his normal between-starts throwing session in the bullpen. But the Rangers aren't expecting anything to keep him from pitching on Thursday.

"Right now he's still in there," manager Ron Washington said.