ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Texas Rangers have activated Yu Darvish from the 15-day disabled list to start Sunday's game against Tampa Bay and optioned right-hander Nick Martinez to Double-A Frisco.
Darvish had been on the DL with neck stiffness. The right-hander made his final spring training start on March 16.
Martinez pitched well in his major league debut Saturday night, allowing three runs and four hits over six innings against the Rays. He was in line for a victory until Tampa Bay scored twice in the eighth off Neal Cotts en route to a 5-4 win.
"He's going to pitch for the Texas Rangers as we move forward at some point for a long time," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Don't read anything too much into the fact he's been sent back down."
Martinez will pitch either Thursday or Friday for Frisco.