Cesar Ramos to start for Texas on Monday

The Texas Rangers will be calling up lefthander Cesar Ramos tomorrow to start Monday night's game against the New York Yankees.  Cole Hamels, the scheduled starter, has been scratched with groin soreness, thus necessitating Ramos stepping in.

Ramos, 31, was a supplemental first round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2005.  He has pitched for the Padres, the Rays, and last season spent the year in the bullpen with the Angels, where he put up a 2.75 ERA and 3.02 FIP.  The Rangers signed him to a minor league deal this offseason with the plan for him to compete for a starting job this spring.  While he didn't make the Opening Day roster, Ramos has been in the Round Rock rotation, allowing four runs in 11 Ip over three starts.

The Rangers will likely put Keone Kela, who is out for the next three months, on the 60 day disabled list to make room for Ramos on the 40 man roster.  Alex Claudio, who pitched today, would seem to be the obvious candidate to be sent down, though Nick Martinez could possibly be optioned instead.

If Claudio gets sent down, and Ramos is dropped after Monday's game, Andrew Faulkner would seem like a candidate to re-join the bullpen, giving the Rangers another lefty out there.  Other options would include Luke Jackson, who is at Round Rock, or possibly Frisco righthander Matt Bush, who was be of the big stories in spring training, and who is currently working out of the Frisco pen.