SEATTLE -- The Rangers' rotation is the No. 1 topic of concern while Drew Smyly is on the injured list with what is described as left mid-arm nerve tightness.

Here are the main question and answers concerning the Rangers' starting pitching.

Q: How long will Smyly be down?

Smyly, who was scratched from Wednesday’s start, is expecting to play catch on Friday and Saturday, and then the Rangers will see if he’s ready to throw off a mound. Smyly said he is only expecting to miss 1-2 starts. But once the Rangers are done with the Mariners, they’ll have three off-days over an eight-day stretch. That means they won’t need a fifth starter until May 11.

Q: What happened with him?

“It just feels fatigued,” Smyly said. “It just didn’t feel ready to pitch [Wednesday]. We’re being precautionary [to] get it behind us. We don’t want to try and push through a couple of starts and go down a slippery slope. I had a hard April. Averaging way too many pitches and that leads to too many stressful innings. That just took a toll on my arm.”

Q: Did the Rangers go too hard with Smyly early in the season.

“I don’t know,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I mean hindsight is 20-20. Maybe if we didn’t, he would be worse. I don’t know. I don’t feel like it, based on talking to him after. I don’t think so. I don’t think so.”

Q: Who pitches on Tuesday against the Pirates?

Adrian Sampson would be the logical choice, but the Rangers have to wait and see how they use the bullpen against the Mariners this weekend. All hands will be on deck for this series.

Q: Could Kyle Dowdy get a longer look in the rotation?

Not right away, but that’s something the Rangers have discussed at length for down the road. He has been a starter and a reliever in the Minor Leagues and the Rangers are intrigued by the possibility.

Q. Could rookie Taylor Hearn, starting on Thursday, stay in the big leagues for longer than 1-2 starts.

That would be a surprise, but Woodward wasn’t ready to address that.

“I don’t think I can answer that,” Woodward said. “I think if he does really well. … It’s hard to say. I can’t give you an answer.”

Q. Could one or two bad starts be a major setback in Hearn’s development at this point?

Woodward was ready to address that.

“Some people say that ruins a guy’s career,” Woodward said. “If that ruins his career, he wasn’t meant for that anyway. It’s OK to get your tail kicked once in a while if that’s the case. I don’t expect Taylor to get his tail kicked, but if he did, so what? Not going to affect his future.

“If we have the right staff and organization in place, he’ll be fine. If you are worried about somebody being fragile, he’s probably not meant to be in the big leagues anyway. If that affects him, we don’t have good leadership here.”

Q: Have Luke Farrell (broken jaw) and Yohander Mendez (sprained left elbow) resumed throwing in Arizona?

No. Mendez is making progress and could resume throwing in early May. But neither pitcher will likely be an option before the All-Star break.

Q. Why is left-hander Brock Burke, the No. 9 prospect in the system, on the injured list at Double-A Frisco?

Blister on his left middle finger. No arm injury there.

Q. Any good news in the system?

Right-hander Ronald Herrera, who missed all of last year with a torn flexor tendon, was activated on Thursday and started for Triple-A Nashville. Left-hander Cole Ragans, the top pick in 2016 who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is throwing live batting practice in Arizona and could pitch in a game by early May.

Q. Is Dallas Keuchel an option yet for the Rangers?

The Rangers remain reluctant to meet the asking price or give up the Draft compensation. Right now, it appears the Rangers would lose the 41st overall pick in the Draft and $500,000 in international bonus pool money if they sign Keuchel.

Q. Wouldn’t Keuchel be worth the 41st overall pick and $500,000 bonus pool money?

Possibly.

Q. Are there any free-agent starters still available besides Keuchel?

James Shields is a guy who could at least eat innings. He would seem to be a logical possibility for a club trying not to rush young pitchers to the big leagues.