ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have TBA listed as their starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale against Kansas City.
That could also best sum up the status of injured ace Yu Darvish.
Darvish, who went on the disabled list Aug. 13 with right elbow inflammation, hasn't started a throwing program yet and certainly won't be available when he's eligible to come off the DL Aug. 25. The Rangers still don't know if Darvish will travel with the team when it begins a 10-game road trip that starts Monday in Seattle.
Manager Ron Washington chose his words carefully when talking about whether or not it matters if Darvish pitches again this season
"I wouldn't say it's important," Washington said. "I don't know how to answer that without really sounding like I'm making a negative statement. I just want him to go through the process and then we'll evaluate as we go through the process and see and then that decision will be made as we go through it. I'll try and answer that and I'll say one word in a sentence and it will get taken all out of context and then all hell will break loose."
That happened earlier Friday as Washington said on his radio show on ESPN 103.3 that he was hoping Darvish would pitch in September.
"I think it would just be the fact he doesn't quit on his teammates, that's all there is to me," Washington said on the show.
Washington said Friday afternoon that he had no doubts about Darvish's loyalty to his teammates.
"None at all," he said.
