A detailed examination of Yu Darvish's right elbow revealed only mild inflammation, the Texas Rangers said Thursday, a day after they put their ace right-hander on the 15-day disabled list.
According to the American League club, tests, including an MRI, revealed no ligament or bone damage. No date has been set for his return but the pitcher has been given the green light to resume throwing provided there is no pain.
"Yu's MRI showed a mild elbow inflammation," Texas Rangers vice president of communications John Blake said, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
"Dr. (Keith) Meister said there is no indication that this is a long-term situation. The timeline for his return will be determined based on Yu's symptoms, and when the soreness subsides he can resume throwing."
Darvish told a news conference prior to Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, that he had felt discomfort rather than pain, in the elbow and that he was capable of pitching. Yet considering the Rangers are currently in last place with little to play for, there is no pressure to press him into duty.
"If I wanted to pitch, I believe I would be able to," he said. "This is a precaution. If I were to aggravate it, it could go on and even have a negative effect on next season.
"The only time I felt pain in the elbow was prior to the 2011 season (with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters). Compared to that, this is very mild."
Darvish said that should the trouble drag on until the end of the season, he would feel no pressure to get back on the mound.
"Because it would be just one or two games, I don't feel there would be any need to pitch," he said.