ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish will get some extra rest before his next start after throwing 126 pitches in another near no-hitter.
The Texas Rangers announced Sunday that Darvish will not start as scheduled Wednesday at Houston. The right-hander from Japan will instead pitch the series opener at home Friday against Toronto in place of lefty Martin Perez, who reported discomfort in his left elbow after not making it out of the fourth inning Saturday night in his third consecutive bad start.
"I don't know because I don't know the particulars," manager Ron Washington responded when about his level of concern on Perez. "We've just got to wait and see what the evaluation proves out."
Perez allowed six runs and 14 runners (nine hits, four walks and a hit batter) in 3 2-3 innings of an 8-3 loss to Boston. Since the end of his 26-inning scoreless streak over three games, Perez (4-3) has given up 19 runs over 13 1-3 innings in his past three games, raising his ERA from 1.42 to 4.38.
Perez will stay in Arlington for MRI and treatment instead of going with the team to Houston. The pitcher said he has never had elbow trouble in the past.
"I'm not nervous. I want to keep working and get in a good situation," Perez said after the Rangers' 5-2 loss to Boston on Sunday. "I want to make sure everything is good. It's day to day."
Darvish came within one out of a no-hitter Friday night in the series opener against the Red Sox before slugger David Ortiz grounded a clean single with two outs in the ninth on the ace's 126th and final pitch. That was just short of his career high of 130 pitches.
Nick Tepesch was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday for Triple-A Round Rock, and is slated to pitch for Texas on Wednesday in Darvish's spot before the Rangers have a scheduled day off Thursday.
Tepesch was 4-6 in 19 games (17 starts) as a rookie last year for the Rangers, but has spent this season at Round Rock. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.58 ERA in seven starts for the Express.
Right-hander Scott Baker and infielder Josh Wilson both cleared outright waivers after being designated for assignment Thursday.
Baker, who pitched 5 1-3 innings in relief in his Rangers debut Wednesday, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers were still waiting for a decision from Wilson, who can refuse the move.
The extra rest for Darvish could also be good news for the Astros.
Darvish was within one out of a perfect game during his first start of 2013 in Houston when Marwin Gonzalez singled through the pitcher's legs. Darvish then lost a no-hit bid with one out in the eighth inning against the Astros last August.
Last month in Arlington, Darvish retired the first 15 Astros batters and pitched eight scoreless innings in what became a 1-0 Texas win in 12 innings.