ARLINGTON, Texas - The Texas Rangers starting rotation will have a different look when the team heads to Detroit this weekend and the bullpen continues to change as well.
Right-hander Scott Baker will start Friday against Detroit as left-hander Robbie Ross is being shifted to the bullpen. The Rangers have also opted to have Tanner Scheppers rehab as a reliever when he heads out on assignment later this week.
Baker, who hasn't pitched with the Rangers since coming back up from Round Rock on May 14, found out he was going into the rotation before he threw a bullpen Tuesday.
Baker, who has 63 major-league wins, isn't thinking about a long-term role. He's just looking forward to be the 10th starter the Rangers have used this year.
"It's obviously exciting," Baker said. "Throwing out the bullpen is fine but my whole career has been as a starter. It's a little more comfortable. One game at a time. I know it's one start but the objective doesn't change."
Ross has struggled to a 1-4 start with a 4.78 ERA. He has failed to pitch five innings in two of his last starts and is winless since April 15.
Scheppers, the club's Opening Day starter, will throw a bullpen Wednesday in Frisco and then begin his rehab this weekend. Texas general manager Jon Daniels expects the rehab process to take around eight games and then Scheppers will join Ross in the bullpen, just like last year.
The decision to move Scheppers out of rotation wasn't an easy one.
"We feel like he can be a successful starter," Daniels said. "We know he can be a productive reliever and we need production right now. We need winning pieces in both areas - starting and relieving. We're going to take the surest thing at this point."
Scheppers wants to be a starter but he understands the team's reasoning.
"They definitely believe I can start, it's not that," said Scheppers, who was 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in four starts before going on the disabled list April 18 with right elbow inflammation. "It's just the situation we're in it's where the need's now. They know what I can do in the relief role. They're a little uncertain what I can do in a starting role."
Last year as one of the set-up men in the bullpen Scheppers posted a 1.88 ERA in 76 appearances.
