With both Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison rehabbing long term injuries — elbow and back, respectively — the Texas Rangers know they'll get something from each this season, but the question is how much help it will be.
Realistically speaking, the Rangers can't count on either to be contributors to the starting rotation, but it's also not out of the question. It's a pipe dream to think both could end up in the rotation before the season ends.
Lewis is on a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco and has a couple of outings under his belt gunning for a return in early August. Now, Harrison could soon be joining him in Frisco after throwing a successful batting practice for the Rangers prior to Wednesday's game against the Yankees, after undergoing two back surgeries earlier in the season.
Harrison was expected to be the Rangers' No. 2 starter this year and got the nod to start the season-opener, but he made two subpar starts before hitting the DL with the back issue.
Harrison threw 25 pitches in the session, and will throw another 40 this weekend in Cleveland before the Rangers are hopefully able to set a plan for him to start a rehab assignment and be back before the calendar hits September.
"It felt really good," Harrison told Fox Sports Southwest of Wednesday's session. "I feel like I'm ready to start ramping things up. My arm felt great. My back felt good. I feel like I was able to hit my spots for the most part in live BP today and hopefully this continues and I continue to stay healthy."
Between Lewis and Harrison, you might be able to expect more from Harrison this season seeing as how Lewis hasn't pitched in the bigs in more than a year now following surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow.
