ANAHEIM -- Barring any setbacks, Colby Lewis will get four more starts this season, with the first coming on Sunday at Angel Stadium, as he makes his long-awaited return from the disabled list.
The Rangers right-hander gets the ball in the series finale for the first time since June 21, when he went down with a Grade 2 lat strain. The goal for Lewis is to work into a rhythm he can maintain throughout the rest of the regular season.
"It's about getting back out on a Major League field," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "We've got an opportunity to get some starts behind him so he has an opportunity to build up and move forward."
Prior to going on the DL on June 25, Lewis was 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 starts.
Lewis made three rehab starts with Double-A Frisco and Class A Spokane with his last start coming Monday at Everett. Lewis gave up four earned runs on eight hits and struck out three over five innings.
"I feel like I needed that last start," Lewis said. "I felt like the last time I went out, everything was a lot more sharp. So I'm just excited to get back out there."
After being put on a 75-pitch limit in Everett, Lewis expects to throw around 80 pitches in Sunday's game. However, Banister said a limit hasn't been determined.
"We want to make sure that he stays healthy," Banister said. "We don't want to send him out and throw 110, we still want to monitor his pitches because this about long term for us, getting him ramped up."
Worth noting
The Rangers claimed R.J. Alvarez from waivers on Saturday morning and optioned him to Class A High Desert. Alvarez was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The 25-year-old right-hander last pitched in the Major Leagues for Oakland in 2015.