ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers right-hander Alexi Ogando is on the disabled list for the third time this season.
Texas had initially been hopeful that Ogando would miss only one start after getting an injection for an inflamed nerve in his right shoulder. Instead, he was put on the DL on Tuesday when left-hander Travis Blackley was called up from Triple-A Round Rock to take his spot in the rotation against Houston.
"Yeah, he's going to need more time. ... So it was easier for us to use his spot and give him time," manager Ron Washington said. "He was disappointed when we told him we was going to put him on the DL."
Washington said Ogando (5-4, 3.47 ERA in 15 starts) thought he would have been ready when it was his turn to pitch again next week.
Matt Garza moved up a day and pitched on regular rest Monday night, in what was Ogando's scheduled start.
Ogando missed three weeks with right biceps tendinitis earlier this season, then made only one start June 5 before going back on the DL for more than seven weeks with right shoulder inflammation.
The pitcher had a CT scan last Wednesday, a day after throwing 73 pitches over 6 1-3 innings in a loss to Milwaukee. He complained of soreness in his shoulder after what was his fifth since coming off the disabled list. He got an injection Saturday.
Rangers officials insist this inflammation is different from the previous bout that kept him out so long.
"It's nerve irritation that has been treated both with an injection and some oral medications. He's had some response to that but not enough to where he's ready to throw," general manager Jon Daniels said. "We looked at it originally if it was just going to be one start, maybe we could play with roster a little bit and he could start next week. But it's probably minimum of two starts, hoping it's only two. So we just figured let's get it knocked out of there and see where he is, and that gets us basically to September."
Washington said no decision has been made if Blackley or someone else would start Monday at Seattle, which would be the next scheduled start in Ogando's spot.
The Rangers also have a scheduled day off Thursday that could provide more flexibility. Derek Holland, the scheduled starter Wednesday, could conceivably pitch Monday on regular rest.
Ogando has been a reliever and starter for the Rangers. He made his major league debut in 2010 with a 1.30 ERA in 44 relief appearances. He was 13-8 and an All-Star as a starter in 2011 before going back to the bullpen last season, when he was 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in 58 appearances.
The DL stints this season have raised questions about if Ogando can hold up as a major league starter.
Daniel said Ogando is still considered a starter "unless we determine otherwise."
It seems likely his role won't change this season since veteran starters Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis both had their potential comebacks cut short earlier this month.
Harrison, the opening day starter, made two starts in April before needing two operations on a herniated disk in his lower back. Lewis is having hip surgery this week after having problems while recovering from elbow surgery last year.
As for being a starter or reliever past this season, Daniels said that Ogando's role is still to be determined.
"It's probably more of a conversation for next year because we have limited starters this year," Daniels said. "I would say for 2014 that's a bigger discussion."