R.A.

Dickey

Kenny Rogers will probably used on Tuesday, especially after Dickey was bombed this week.

He expects to make his next scheduled start Sunday. Throw out a horrible game against the A’s on Apr. 14, and Dickey would be 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 13/4 K/BB rate. He’s a good risk for a small investment.

R.A. Dickey, who started Saturday, will pitch on Thursday against Tampa, whereas Joaquin Benoit, who pitched last Friday, will pitch this coming Friday against the Tigers. The move was made to accomodate Benoit, who is a much better pitcher on an extra day’s rest.

The Rangers will then decide if he is a candidate for activation.

The Rangers did not consider moving up Colby Lewis, who could have pitched on normal four days’ rest but will start Thursday’s series opener in Chicago.

He will pitch in long relief for the time being. Dickey, who was torched for nine runs in 1 1/3 innnigs Sunday, is 0-5 with a 8.31 ERA since pitching a career-high 131 pitches in a May 2nd start. His place in the rotation will be taken by John Wasdin, who will be called up to start Friday against the Marlins.

His inconsistent pitching still is. Dickey will be a part of the Ranger bullpen for the foreseeable future and is not a fantasy asset at this time.

He will be limited to 60-70 pitches in his start scheduled for Saturday. Dickey will then take three days off and pitch again before returning to the Rangers as a starter. It seems that the Rangers believe that his poor performance over his last 10 appearances (1-5 with a 7.80 ERA) had much to do with his back troubles. We hope for their sake they are right.

He will likley pitch out of the Rangers’ bullpen when he returns to action some time after the All-Star break.

Sam Narron and Nick Regilio made the first major league starts of their careers in the past week, and either John Hudgins or Ryan Snare could be the next pitcher to make major league debuts if the Rangers can’t make a trade for a starting pitcher. ''We’re exploring all possibilities,’' manager Buck Showalter said. One of those possibilities could include signing free agent retread Scott Erickson, released by the Mets earlier this week.