Monday Afternoon Notes

  • Assuming he doesn't eat, sleep, open his eyes, or fall down and stairs, your Opening Day starter has been pegged as Tanner Scheppers. Apparently the Rangers feel that his age, 27, compared to that of Martin Perez, 22, gives him a bit more composure to avoid falling victim to the ceremony the comes along with Opening Day.

  • In what qualifies as great news, Yu Darvish has no structural damage in his neck and will be able to resume throwing on Saturday. Assuming there are no setbacks, he could rejoin the Rangers as soon as he's built his arm back up and is eligible to come off of the DL.

  • Tommy Hanson has been released, and in his place, Nick Martinez will be called up to start the 5th game of the season. Things could certainly be shuffled around by then, but for now, that's where we stand. Martinez compiled a 2.50 ERA in 151.1 innings pitched in 2013 between high-A Myrtle Beach and AA Frisco..

  • The Rangers have acquired infielder Donnie Murphy from the Chicago Cubs on a waiver claim. Murphy, 31, put up a line of .255/.319/.530 in 2013, and has shown an ability in the past to be a productive part-time player. It's possible he could fill in for Jurickson Profar during the first half of the season.

  • Michael Choice has been informed that he will be on the Major League club, confirming what many of us have believe for weeks now. He'll likely have some limited opportunities to contribute early on, with playing time increasing if he handles it well. Based on his Spring Training, my money is on him succeeding and playing a major role at some point this year.

  • The current plan is to build Colby Lewis up to about 100 pitches by April 6, according to Evan Grant. This would apparently give the club confidence to pitch him on regular rest on April 11, assuming everything moves along smoothly for Colby.