RANGERS Darvish to start
SURPRISE, Ariz. - Yu Darvish will be the opening day starter for the Texas Rangers.
Manager Ron Washington said he informed Darvish on Tuesday morning that the right-hander from Japan will start March 31 against Philadelphia at home.
Darvish is going into his third major-league season. He started the second game last season, when hecame within one out of a perfect game against Houston. He went on to lead the majors with 277 strikeouts and finish second in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
The last Rangers starter with consecutive opening day starts was Kevin Millwood from 2006 to 2009.
Darvish will be the sixth different opening day starter in six years for Texas. Matt Harrison started last year’s opener.
DODGERS Scanning Kemp’s ankle
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp is scheduled for an magnetic resonance imaging scan of his surgically repaired left ankle Friday.
Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday that the scan will help determine whether Kemp can accelerate his rehabilitation from micro-fracture surgery in October. Kemp, who sustained the injury in July, has been limited to batting practice in spring training and hasn’t been able to run.
“I’m sure he’s getting tired of taking [batting practice] and not being able to do anything with the rest of the guys,” Mattingly said.
An All-Star in 2011 and 2012, Kemp is not expected to travel for the season-opening series against Arizona in Sydney on March 22-23.
“I’m assuming once we get the green light to go forward, it’s still going to be a progression to get him ready,” Mattingly said.
PADRES
Headley strains calf
PEORIA, Ariz. - An MRI exam has confirmed a Grade I calf strain for San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley.
San Diego Manager Bud Black said Tuesday morning that Headley was feeling better.
He said the exam does not change the expected timeline for his recovery. Headley is expected to be out two to three weeks recovering from the strain of his right calf.
Headley was injured during a drill last Saturday. He’s coming off minor knee surgery in the off season.
Black also said that reliever Alex Torres is on his way to camp after having visa troubles in his native Venezuela and is expected to arrive later this week. Torres was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay during the off season.
YANKEES Tanaka debut set
TAMPA, Fla. - Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to make his New York Yankees debut Saturday.
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement Tuesday after New York beat Florida State University 8-3.
Tanaka signed a $155 million, seven-year contract in January. He was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year while leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to the Japan Series title.
Tanaka and Hiroki Kuorda will follow starter CC Sabathia in Saturday’s game against Philadelphia at Steinbrenner Field.
Girardi said with off days, it gets kind of tricky lining up the rotation and that having all three pitch the same day is how pitching coach Larry Rothschild set things up.
All three are expected to throw two innings or 35 pitches.
Sports, Pages 24 on 02/26/2014