Hamels tosses bullpen session, could return Saturday for Rangers

Left-hander Cole Hamels might have been scratched from his Monday start, but the Texas Rangers’ ace was hardly inactive before the series opener against the New York Yankees.

Hamels threw a short 26-pitch bullpen session without any apparent issues with his sore left groin and tentatively is scheduled to start Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. He wore a wrap around the groin and will do so again Wednesday when he throws a longer bullpen session.

Asked if he survived, Hamels said only “yes” before jogging into the Rangers’ clubhouse. Pitching coach Doug Brocail said that Hamels’ mechanics looked as they normally do and that a start Saturday would fall into the 10- to 14-day window he was anticipating Hamels would need.

“I thought it looked good. He stayed in his lane well and got downhill,” Brocail said. “This is something he’s dealt with before. If anybody knows his body, Cole knows his body better than any of our guys.”

Hamels dealt with a similar issue in August after his first two starts following his trade from Philadelphia. He was skipped once, and he and the Rangers haven’t lost in his 14 starts since the 2015 tweak.

The Rangers gave lefty Cesar Ramos a spot start in Hamels’ place. The Rangers purchased his Triple A contract, optioned right-hander Nick Martinez to Round Rock and moved righty Keone Kela from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to create a spot for Ramos on the 40-man roster.

Ramos, who spent 2015 in the Angels’ bullpen, would stick in the bullpen if Hamels starts Saturday and is a candidate to remain with the club as a reliever for an extended stretch.

No birthday plans

A 21st birthday in the United States is a landmark event for many, as they can now legally purchase and consume alcohol. For someone from the Dominican Republic, where the legal drinking age is 18, a 21st birthday is no reason to go crazy.

“That’s not a big deal for me,” said Nomar Mazara, who turns 21 on Tuesday.

The rookie right fielder has no major plans to celebrate the big 2-1. He does have a game to play, after all.

But that he’s only turning 21 and his handling his first taste of the majors so matter-of-factly continues to impress his teammates.

“That’s really impressive at that young age,” said shortstop Elvis Andrus, who debuted at age 20 in 2009. “I hope he stays that way, keeps playing hard and never gives up.”

DeShields dropped

Center fielder Delino DeShields returned to the Rangers’ lineup after a day off Sunday, and he did so as the Rangers’ No. 9 hitter after batting leadoff in his first 16 games.

The move had less to do with his 2-for-20 funk than it did manager Jeff Banister trying to put another left-handed hitter, Rougned Odor, early against Yankees right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.

With shutdown relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller in the bullpen, Banister was hoping to strike early.

“You don’t want to wait around and challenge the back end of their bullpen,” Banister said.

DeShields said that his approach wouldn’t change at the bottom of the order.

“I’m going to treat it as I’m hitting leadoff,” he said. “Whether it’s first, ninth, fifth, it doesn’t matter. Getting on base and scoring runs is what I need to do.”

Briefly

▪ Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo hit front flips and jogged on a treadmill for the first time since injuring his right calf, and he remains hopeful that he will return sooner than the four- to six-week window forecast after his April 9 injury.

▪ Prince Fielder made his first start of the season at first base, and Banister was hoping that seeing the game from the field rather than the bench as a designated hitter might spark Fielder’s bat.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Hamels tosses bullpen session, could return Saturday for Rangers."