For a guy that is coming off a season in which he was the Texas Rangers' most consistent, solid starting pitcher and is expected to repeat that performance this upcoming season, Matt Harrison hasn't had a very good spring.
He's got a 9.00 ERA, mostly thanks to his first spring outing that was awfully rough, and he's been dealing with a nagging toe injury caused by dragging his left foot across the mound in his pitching motion.
Harrison was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday and was set to return to the Metroplex to see an orthopedist on Monday in Plano, but instead tried an orthotic insert in his shoe and saw favorable results while throwing a bullpen session.
“It was much, much better,” Harrison told The Dallas Morning News. “I didn’t have to think about my toe hurting and was able to make my pitches.”
Harrison and the Rangers canceled the visit to Dr. John Crates as the lefty is now set to pitch again on Tuesday in a "B" game against the Kansas City Royals. If he does well in relation to his toe, he'll be good to go. If the problem arises again, Harrison will visit Crates in Plano on Wednesday, which is a scheduled off day for the Rangers.
