Tanner Scheppers (elbow) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Monday. Scheppers began a flat-ground throwing program at the end of April and is now ready for mound work. He has been out for three weeks with muscle inflammation near his right elbow and probably won't be ready to rejoin the Rangers until late May or early June.

Tanner Scheppers (elbow) will begin a throwing program Wednesday. Scheppers has been shut down for nearly two weeks with muscle inflammation in his right elbow. It's not clear at this point how long it will be until he's ready to throw off a mound and then get into a game, but he might not have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's healthy.

Rangers placed RHP Tanner Scheppers on the 15-day disabled list with muscle inflammation in his right elbow. The club is saying Scheppers' ligament is fine, as it's a muscular injury. That's obviously preferred, but it's not clear how long he might be sidelined. Nick Martinez is expected to be recalled to start on Tuesday in Scheppers' place.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said Thursday that removing Tanner Scheppers from the rotation is "nothing that's crossed my mind." "We know it's a work in progress," Washington added. Scheppers was battered for six runs over just 2 1/3 frames Thursday against the Mariners and now has a 9.82 ERA over his first four starts. He's pitched beyond the fifth inning on just one occasion. Still, the Rangers don't really have any great alternatives with Matt Harrison (back) not quite ready. Scheppers will be on the chopping block in a couple weeks when Harrison returns.

Tanner Scheppers was awful again but escaped with a no-decision Thursday, allowing six runs over just 2 1/3 frames in an 8-6 win over the Mariners. The Rangers handed Scheppers a 4-0 lead, but the M's got to him in a big way in a six-run third inning. The righty allowed six hits and walked three on the day. He's issued eight free passes over his 18 1/3 innings this season and holds a 9.82 ERA. The Rangers probably would have booted him from the rotation already if they had more options. With Matt Harrison (back) due back soon, Scheppers better shape up in a hurry. He gets the A's next.

Tanner Scheppers was shelled for five earned runs over seven innings Saturday in the Rangers' loss to Houston. Scheppers now has two ugly outings and one decent one, and he'll carry a 7.88 ERA into his next start against the Mariners. The Rangers badly need Matt Harrison back.

Tanner Scheppers pitched five innings and allowed two runs Monday in a loss to the Red Sox. Scheppers was far more successful tonight that when he was slammed for seven runs on Opening Day, but unlike last time, the run support wasn't there. He ended up allowing nine hits, walking one and striking out three. He'll need to be better over his next couple of starts or risk being sent to the pen when Matt Harrison comes off the DL.

The Rangers will start Tanner Scheppers on Opening Day against the Phillies on March 31. He'll start in place of Yu Darvish, who was scratched from the assignment due to a neck injury. Some speculated that Martin Perez would get the nod in his place, but Scheppers will get the call in what will be his first major league start. You don't see that very often.

Rangers manager Ron Washington announced Saturday that Tanner Scheppers has secured a spot in the Rangers Opening Day rotation. The 27-year-old certainly earned the nod with a strong showing in Cactus League play. He posted a 3.07 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14/4 K/BB ratio in 14 2/3 innings. While his home ballpark does him no favors, his strong ratio base and upside in strikeouts make him a very interesting name in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.

Tanner Scheppers racked up six strikeouts while allowing two runs on five hits over six frames in Friday's Cactus League victory over the Brewers. The 27-year-old hurler was initially in the mix for the team's vacancy in the ninth inning, but is now being taken seriously as a competitor for the final spot in the Rangers Opening Day rotation. Should he be able to secure that job, his live arm and plus strikeout potential make him a very intriguing option in mixed league drafts.