Derek Holland will be evaluated by a Texas Rangers doctor Monday after dealing with a case of food poisoning last week while participating in the World Baseball Classic.
The left-hander is tentatively scheduled to pitch Wednesday in a minor league game, but the Rangers are awaiting word on his health before going forward.Holland pitched a week ago for Team USA against Canada, throwing five innings. He was with the team for the second round in Miami, but fell ill Thursday and was told to return to the team hotel.Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said that Holland is right on track to be ready for his first start of the regular season, likely the finale of the three-game, season-opening series at Houston.Holland returned to Surprise, Ariz., on Saturday.“We’ll play some catch and throw him on the side,” Maddux said. “He’s on schedule. We had him one outing ahead of everyone else. He’s where he should be at this point in spring training.”Holland suffered from a stomach virus last season that caused him to lose 15 pounds and strength in his arm. He was put on the disabled list for shoulder fatigue in early June.McClellan suffers setbackKyle McClellan won’t be in the Rangers’ rotation or bullpen on Opening Day. McClellan came down with a strained lat muscle Saturday and will be shut down for the next three to four weeks before resuming a throwing program.Michael Kirkman will start Sunday against the Seattle Mariners in McClellan’s place.McClellan, who had shoulder surgery in July and has been slowed by shoulder/back soreness this spring, was a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation or as a long reliever.“We were looking at him as a strong candidate for one of the 12 spots on the team,” assistant general manager Thad Levine said. “Whether it means it gives another guy a chance in the rotation or bullpen, the bottom line is it’s going to give somebody a chance to step up and be on the Opening Day roster.”With McClellan and Martin Perez out with injuries, the fifth spot competition is down to Robbie Ross, Randy Wells, Nick Tepesch and Justin Grimm.The Rangers would like to see one of them emerge, but Levine acknowledged that the Rangers are looking at external options.“This is the time of year you’re calling other teams and seeing what their surpluses and their needs are and see if they match up with ours,” Levine said.McClellan felt some soreness after his two-inning outing on Tuesday and then had a subpar bullpen session. Team physician Keith Meister examined McClellan, which is when an MRI showed the lat issue.The silver lining in the diagnosis is that there is no structural damage to the shoulder or the surgery site. McClellan can opt out of his minor league contract on Friday, but is expected to stay with the team.The Lewis planColby Lewis wasted little time when asked to give a progress report on his recovery from flexor tendon surgery in July.“It’s great, unbelievable,” Lewis said. “There’s no pain, no nothing.”Lewis has been throwing bullpen sessions for the past two-plus weeks and his effort level has progressed every time. He’s not “cranking” it yet, but he’s building up his arm strength and has thrown his off-speed pitches well.Lewis said he’ll throw a couple more bullpens and then progress to live batting practices toward the end of spring training.The tentative plan after that calls for him to stay in Arizona to make a few starts in extended spring training, and then go on a rehabilitation assignment at Double A Frisco or Triple A Round Rock.“I’m getting after it and everything has gone well so far,” Lewis said.Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @JeffWilson
