Texas Rangers injury update: Martin Perez has "perfect" bullpen yesterday

Martin Perez threw a bullpen session yesterday that he described as "perfect," per Anthony Andro, and he is apparently on track to make his next scheduled rehab start on Monday.

Perez, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery last May, had a rehab start a week ago, but tweaked his groin and was pulled off the assignment.  The plan is for him to do another bullpen session on Friday, and then re-start his rehab stint with a start on Monday.

Matt Harrison, meanwhile, presumably will make a rehab start either Friday or Saturday.  He has gone at least 5 innings in each of his first three rehab starts, and threw 98 pitches his last time out.  Harrison has said he's ready, but with the rotation performing well and Harrison charting unknown territory with his return from spinal fusion surgery, it sounds like the team wants him to make another couple of rehab starts before bringing him back.

Derek Holland, meanwhile, is getting another MRI on Thursday, per Jeff Wilson, and if things look go there, he'll be back on the mound in a couple of weeks.

Finally, Ryan Rua had a single, a homer and a walk yesterday in game 10 of his rehab stint with Round Rock, and he is a week away from when he officially can no longer be on a rehab assignment and having to be activated from the disabled list.  With three lefthanders in the next four days, the Rangers could use Rua, who has missed most of the season with a broken ankle and is currently sporting a .182/.325/.364 line.

The problem is, when Rua is activated -- whether now or a week from now when his rehab stint has to end -- the Rangers will have to clear a 40 man roster spot to make room for him.  The Rangers could bring up Jorge Alfaro and put him on the 60 day d.l., but that means Alfaro will accrue service time, and I doubt the Rangers really want to do that.  Alternatively, the Rangers could DFA either Jake Smolinski or Adam Rosales to clear a spot on both the 25 and 40 man roster for Rua.  Another possibility would be optioning Smolinski and DFAing Michael Choice, who has a disappointing .228/.281/.379 line for Round Rock.