Matt Harrison (back) will throw off a half-mound on Monday. Harrison long-tossed from up to 250 feet Saturday with no issues. "I feel good," Harrison said. "I just have to keep going. I feel like my arm is strong." There's no timetable for Harrison pitching in a Cactus League game, but he's moving in the right direction.

Matt Harrison (back) played catch from 120 feet Thursday on a back field in Rangers camp. Harrison was cleared to resume his spring throwing program Monday after an MRI on his back came up clean. The Rangers will take it slowly with the 28-year-old lefty, who needed multiple back surgeries in 2013. He seems doubtful to pitch the first week of the regular season.

Matt Harrison is expected to resume his throwing program Thursday after an MRI on his lower back came back clean. Harrison received a nerve-block injection in the right side of his neck to deal with the stiffness. There was real reason for concern given that he required multiple back surgeries last year, so this is good news under the circumstances. Still, he's not expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Matt Harrison reported improvement with his back Friday. He also noted that he's not feeling any numbness, which was a symptom he felt last season when his back needed a pair of surgeries. However, the Rangers won't make any conclusions about Harrison's status until he receive an MRI on Monday. The 28-year-old left-hander was limited to two starts in 2013 due to back issues.

Matt Harrison is getting an MRI on his back. Harrison is being bothered by stiffness in the same area that required two surgeries last season. The 28-year-old left-hander will hope that it's just routine inflammation. He was limited to two starts in 2013.

Matt Harrison (neck) will see team physician Dr. Keith Meister on Thursday. Harrison was scratched from throwing live batting practice on Tuesday due to a stiff neck, but the expectation is that he'll be cleared to resume full activities after Thursday. The 28-year-old had a pair of back procedures last year, so the Rangers don't want to take any chances.

Matt Harrison will not throw Tuesday due to a stiff neck. Harrison wanted to throw anyway, so it doesn't sound like a major concern, but the Rangers didn't want to take any chances. The 28-year-old was limited to just two starts last season due to a herniated disc in his back.

Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said Tuesday that Matt Harrison has lost about 30 pounds. Harrison lost the weight in order to decrease the strain in his back coming off surgery to repair a herniated disk. The 28-year-old threw a bullpen session Monday (though not at full intensity) and felt fine, so all signs point to him being healthy for the start of 2014.

Matt Harrison (back, shoulder) threw a bullpen session Monday and said he felt fine. Harrison made just two starts in 2013 before undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back. He also required an operation last September to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome in his right (non-throwing) shoulder. However, the Rangers expect him to be ready for the start of the 2014 season. While the 28-year-old southpaw posted a 3.34 ERA from 2011-2012, he'll be a wait-and-see option in most mixed fantasy leagues.

Matt Harrison (back, shoulder) hopes to start throwing off a mound next week. "I think he's a big key for us," Rangers GM Jon Daniels said during a recent radio spot. "The year before he was a 220-inning workhouse. He was huge for the team. When you look at the profile in our ballpark of a left-hander who keeps the ball on the ground, really utilizes the strength of our team with Elvis [Andrus] and [Adrian] Beltre on the left side, you knew every fifth day that he was going to go out there and compete and keep us in the game and more often than not win it." Harrison made just two starts in 2013 before going under the knife to repair a herniated disc in his back. He expects to be ready for spring training.