Yu Darvish did not make his scheduled start on Friday in a minor-league game after he woke up with a stiff neck, but don't worry, Rangers fans, because it sounds like your ace is just fine.
"I slept on it wrong," Darvish told reporters in Surprise, Ariz. "If I have two or three days it will be fine."
Darvish was scheduled to throw 90 pitches in the game on Friday and then make one more start on March 27 against Mexican League champs Quintana Roo at Globe Life Park before taking the hill on March 31 for the Rangers' Opening Day game against the Philadelphia Phillies and Cliff Lee.
Darvish needs one more tuneup to be ready for Opening Day, and that doesn't seem to be in question. But if for some reason the problem continues and he can't make that start next Thursday, then things could get iffy for Opening Day.
With Matt Harrison and Derek Holland both already on the shelf to start the season, the last thing the Rangers need is their ace and one truly unquestioned starting pitcher to be injured. But so far, it seems like they dodged that bullet.
