ARLINGTON, Texas _ Right-hander Yu Darvish could complete a minor league injury-rehabilitation assignment on Sunday with a start for Double-A Frisco.
Darvish, on the disabled list since June 9 because of shoulder soreness, is expected to throw about 60 pitches in four innings. If all goes well, the Rangers would consider giving Darvish an extra day of rest and returning him to the injury-plagued rotation on July 16, at the Chicago Cubs.
"If all things go right, I'm not going to say that it is completely out," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said on Friday.
The more conservative option would be to have Darvish make a third rehab start, for about 75 pitches in five innings, before returning to the rotation. That would force the Rangers to get one more start from a replacement.
The Rangers have used left-hander Cesar Ramos and right-hander Nick Martinez in Darvish's spot. The club is 1-4 in those games.
