Tepesch may start Tuesday, or come out of 'pen

ARLINGTON -- Nick Tepesch remains Tuesday's tentative starter against the Rays, but Rangers manager Ron Washington expects the game to be a collective effort from his bullpen. Whether Tepesch remains as the starter will depend on how the 'pen is used before Tuesday's game.

"There will be guys out of the bullpen piggybacking," Washington said.

Tepesch said he hasn't been officially told he will start, but he's prepared to start or come out of the bullpen. He has made one start and two relief outings since he returned from the disabled list in September with right elbow inflammation. He struggled in his last outing Friday, however, allowing two runs in an inning against the A's.

"Two rehab games I had and the two appearance I had before that I thought were good," Tepesch said. "The other day, I just wasn't commanding my pitches and wasn't throwing strikes."

Tepesch said he tries to hold the same mindset whether he's starting or coming in relief. Despite the differences, he said the goal is the same.

"The spots I've come into the game is kind of, I don't want to say you treat it like a starter, but you try to get as many innings as you can," Tepesch said.