MLB teams
Calvin Watkins, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Derek Holland set for rehab start

MLB, Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers left-hander Derek Holland is scheduled to make his first rehab start this season with Double-A Frisco on Wednesday.

Holland will throw a bullpen session Monday and, if everything goes well, will start Wednesday when the RoughRiders take on Midland.

Holland underwent microfracture surgery on his knee in January after he tripped over his dog while going down stairs in his home.

"I'm excited and I've been waiting to get out there and play," said Holland, who hasn't pitched this season. "That's been my big thing, just getting out there and being able to play and help the team. Being on the [disabled list] makes you realize a lot of things aren't going your way and it makes me feel like I'm not a part of the team. I know the struggles and everything they've been having and I haven't really been a part of it, and that's why I want to get out there as much as I can.

"If we go down, I want to go down with it. So, I want to do as much as I can to be a part of this team."

In Holland's absence, the Rangers have struggled, taking a 41-62 record -- the worst in baseball -- into Saturday night's game against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

Holland went 10-9 with a 3.42 ERA last season and was expected to become one of the front-line starters with Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison.

Harrison went on the disabled list in May due to back surgery, leaving only Darvish, the staff ace.

"I don't know if depressing is the right word to say, but it's been one of those things where I can't sleep at night," the 27-year-old Holland said. "I want to be playing, that's my main thing. I always talk about I can go out there and play and that's my mentality. The trainers always look out for me because I obviously would make that dumb decision to go out, and go out and get hurt. Overall, it's just been a frustrating experience being on the DL."

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