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Colby Lewis, who also pitched in a Minor League game against the Royals on Tuesday night, is the Rangers' Opening Day starter and will be followed by Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish and Feliz.
The Rangers set up their rotation that way going into Spring Training and do not seem inclined to change it now. Unless a last-minute decision or injury occurs, Darvish will make his first start for the Rangers on April 9 against the Mariners at the Ballpark in Arlington. Lewis, Holland and Harrison are scheduled to pitch the Opening Series against the White Sox, although the Rangers have not officially announced anything yet.
"We're going to announce the rotation soon," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Alexi Ogando is headed for the bullpen. He has been stretched out as a starter and is scheduled to pitch six innings in a Minor League game against the Dodgers on Wednesday. The Rangers, who remember Tommy Hunter getting hurt late in Spring Training last year, wanted Ogando ready in case something like that happened this year.
But Feliz's shoulder is the only red flag that has popped up in the Rangers rotation this spring, and he has been able to overcome that quickly. All four other starters have sailed through the spring without any physical issues at all.
So Ogando and Scott Feldman, who has also had a terrific spring, will end up in the bullpen along with closer Joe Nathan, setup reliever Mike Adams and three others to be determined.
Starting rotation is set, Feliz looks to be doing good
Only a few questionables left in the bullpen.
I wouldn't mind seeing Ross make the squad and see how he plays out.
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Kirkman was once the favorite to be the Rangers' left-handed reliever. He no longer holds that distinction. Ross has come to camp as a long shot and taken it away.
"It's obvious the kid is doing well," Washington said.
Ross, after two scoreless innings against the Angels' best hitters, has yet to give up a run in six official Cactus League appearances, although he allowed four runs over 2 1/3 innings in a start against the Brewers that was eventually rained out. The Rangers have been willing to overlook that one rough outing because all others have been impeccable.
"He has been very impressive," Washington said. "If you were going to have a frame for pitching, it would be work fast, throw strikes and get outs. That's what he does."
Ross was the Rangers' second-round pick out of high school in 2008, and he has pitched just six games at the Double-A level. He has also been a starting pitcher all through the Minor Leagues. But the Rangers have never been afraid to push young pitchers, and club officials said they are comfortable breaking Ross into the big leagues by using him out of the bullpen.
The Rangers have three spots open in a seven-man bullpen that already includes right-handers Joe Nathan, Mike Adams, Alexi Ogando and Scott Feldman. Mark Lowe likely has the fifth spot wrapped up, and the Rangers seem determined to take Koji Uehara even though he has a 14.21 ERA, while opponents are hitting .357 off him.
The seventh spot could go to either right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama or one of the left-handers. The Rangers want that left-hander to get right-handed hitters out, as Ross did on Sunday when right-handed hitters were 1-for-4 against him.
"So far, it doesn't matter who is up there, he throws strikes," Washington said. "He works fast, throws strikes and gets outs."