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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers only have to wait a few more days before the ace will be back on the mound. Erik Johnson Avalanche Jersey . Darvish is scheduled to make his season debut Sunday at Tampa Bay after getting through an extended bullpen session without any issues. "Hes ready to go," manager Ron Washington said Wednesday, when Darvish reported feeling good a day after throwing 86 pitches. Washington said Darvish is as strong as he was before the neck stiffness that kept the pitcher from throwing for two weeks. Darvish was placed on the disabled list to start the season, though the move was retroactive to March 21, making the right-hander eligible to be activated this weekend. "Once his neck wasnt bothering him anymore, we saw the same stuff we saw in Arizona," Washington said. "He didnt back up any." Tanner Scheppers, who started the opener and was scheduled for the series finale against the Rays, was pushed back to Monday at Boston, where he will be followed by Martin Perez and Robbie Ross against the Red Sox. Washington said there have been no decisions made past that trio that also started the first three games of the season. Darvish last faced hitters in a game March 16 during spring training. Their expected opening-day starter didnt throw again until last Saturday, when he threw off flat ground and followed that a day later with a 32-pitch bullpen session. After not throwing opening day, he came back with the strong 86-pitch session Tuesday. "Hes still as strong as an ox," Washington said. "He still was darting up the gnats that were flying around home plate. You know how small a gnat is. He was knocking them down with consistency." Darvish finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season, when he led the major leagues with 277 strikeouts. In his season debut last year, in the second game of the season, Darvish came within one out of a perfect game at Houston. Darvish could have been activated as early as Saturday, when right-hander Nick Martinez is scheduled to make his major league debut. Martinez has never pitched above the Double-A level and isnt even on the Rangers 25-man roster yet. http://www.hockeyavalancheshop.com/Burgundy-Red-PA-Parenteau-Jersey/ . The 27-year-old from Calgary battled through the nagging injury to put together a consistent 2011-12 season that included nine top-30 World Cup finishes. http://www.hockeyavalancheshop.com/Burgundy-Red-Ryan-OReilly-Jersey/ . Click on to TSN.cas Live Blog at 3pm et/Noon pt for instant analysis from TSNs Noel Butler and Luke Wileman. Adu, a one-time U.S. prodigy who debuted MLS in 2004 when he was 14, returned to MLS this season after an unsuccessful European stint and played 14 games in 2011 for the Union.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have put outfielder Justin Ruggiano on the 15-day disabled list because a strained left hamstring and called up two pitchers from the minors. The Cubs made the moves before Thursdays game against Arizona. They promoted left-hander Zac Rosscup and right-hander Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa and optioneed righty Blake Parker to their top minor league team. http://www.hockeyavalancheshop.com/Burgundy-Red-Nathan-MacKinnon-Jersey/. . Ruggiano says he has a Grade 2 strain and says the best-case scenario is for a return in three to four weeks. He was injured in the ninth inning Wednesday trying to make a catch in right field. Ruggiano is hitting .229 with one home run and six RBIs. ' ' ' |
