Rodriguez struck out five and walked three while holding the Angels to one run on five hits over five innings in a no-decision Friday night. In addition to the three walks, Rodriguez had a pair of wild pitches, and he hit David Freese. The Rangers are woefully thin in the rotation at the present time, leaving Rodriguez with at least one more turn Wednesday against the Mariners in Arlington.

Rodriguez will be called up to start Friday against the Angels, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Rodriguez appeared in line open the year in the Braves' rotation after impressing in spring training, but Atlanta ultimately decided Rodriguez and Eric Stults were too similar. After the Braves cut bait, Rodriguez inked a minor league deal with the Rangers and has impressed in his first two starts with Triple-A Round Rock, allowing two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings. Ross Detwiler has some mechanical issues to work out but will not go to the bullpen.

Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on Monday. The Rangers have serious starting rotation depth issues, so this does not come as a surprise following Rodriguez being released by the Braves. He will start the year at Triple-A Round Rock, but could soon find his way into the big league rotation if he can prove to be somewhat competent.

The Braves released Rodriguez on Friday, MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports. Rodriguez appeared likely to open the season in the Braves' rotation as recently as Thursday, but Atlanta's trade for Trevor Cahill essentially cost Rodriguez a spot on the roster. Rodriguez tossed the ball well this spring, posting a 3.13 ERA and 23:8 K:BB ratio in 23 innings over six starts, so he should find work with another team, and could possibly still even open the season with a starting rotation spot, depending where he lands of course.

Rodriguez struggled in his last spring outing, giving up four runs on eight hits (including two home runs), with no walks and three strikeouts over five innings against the Pirates. Afterward, manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB.com that Rodriguez is still considered one of the top candidates to fill a rotation spot to begin the year. "[Thursday's] outing doesn't change my mind at all," Gonzalez said. Previously, Gonzalez said Rodriguez had pretty much already secured a rotation spot, and it doesn't sound like much of anything has changed on that front. Rodriguez has pitched well for most of the spring, at one point stringing together 12 consecutive scoreless innings, and Gonzalez said he thought the two home runs he allowed Thursday were wind-aided. However, there is a question as to whether the Braves really want two similar, veteran lefties in Rodriguez and Eric Stults in the same rotation. The Braves have reportedly talked to other clubs that have expressed interest in Rodriguez, so there's still a bit of uncertainty with Opening Day less than a week away.

Rodriguez has pretty much already secured a spot in the Braves' Opening Day rotation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "...I think the chances of (Rodriguez) making this club are really, really good," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "No matter whether he give up 10 runs (Friday) or throws a one-hitter. Because you like what you've seen, you like what he's done in the past, and so yeah, as far as today -- just let him go out and pitch." Rodriguez blanked the Astros over four innings Saturday, giving him seven scoreless frames since his lackluster one-inning spring debut back on March 4. It sounds like Gonzalez has already penciled the veteran lefty in for the No. 4 starter role, leaving Eric Stults, Mike Foltynewicz, Manny Banuelos and Cody Martin to compete for Mike Minor's vacated rotation spot. Rodriguez was limited to just six starts last season with the Pirates due to a knee injury.

Rodriguez gave up two hits and three walks while striking out two over four scoreless innings against the Astros on Saturday. The veteran lefty struggled in his first Grapefruit League outing, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in one inning, but he's spun seven consecutive scoreless frames since. Rodriguez is making a strong case for one of the Braves' final two rotation spots, having created some distance between himself and youngsters Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos early on. Foltynewicz and Banuelos both failed to make it out of the first inning in their respective split-squad games Friday.

Rodriguez (knee) will start the Braves' Grapefruit League opener Wednesday against the Mets, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The left-hander is slated to go two innings in what will be his first live action since May 21. Knee issues derailed Rodriguez's 2014 campaign, but he did not have any further problems in winter ball and reportedly impressed manager Fredi Gonzalez during a bullpen session last week. Rodriguez is competing with Eric Stults, Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos for the final rotation spot this spring.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez mentioned Rodriguez (knee) as a candidate for the final rotation spot, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. Mike Foltynewicz and Eric Stults seem like the early favorites for the job, but Rodriguez and Manny Banuelos will also get a chance to compete. The big question mark surrounding Rodriguez is the health of his right knee, which he had operated on in May, ending his season after just six starts. He then failed his physical with the Phillies in late December.

Rodriguez agreed to a minor league deal, which includes a spring training invite, with the Braves on Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Rodriguez was close to signing with the Phillies in December but failed a physical, so the deal was never finalized. The 35-year-old has dealt with several injuries over the past two seasons, which have limited him to just 18 major league starts, but he's believed to have a chance to compete for the fifth starting spot in the Braves' rotation in spring training. He'll likely be in competition with David Hale, James Russell and Chien-Ming Wang for the position. Rodriguez's contract will pay him a $2 million base salary, which is prorated based upon time spent on the organization's major league roster.