Perez suffers fractured ulna on line drive

Martin Perez, considered at this point to be the favorite in the race for the #5 starter's job, left the game today after taking a line drive off of his left (pitching) arm.

The reports on Twitter indicate that it looked bad, and he was hit in the upper arm or wrist area. He is being taken to the hospital for x-rays.

Perez, Justin Grimm and Robbie Ross have been considered the primary candidates for the #5 starter job. Grimm has had a bad spring thusfar, including an awful outing today where he gave up 6 runs in 2.1 innings, and Ross has questions about whether he's got the repertoire to be a starter. Ross is also handicapped by the fact that the bullpen is considered something of a weakness right now, and he is considered one of few solid options that the Rangers have in the pen.

We will have more news on Perez's status as it develops.

UPDATE -- John Blake just tweeted that Perez has a fractured left ulna, and will not throw for the next four weeks.

That takes Perez out of the mix for the fifth starter spot.