Texas Rangers right-handed relief pitcher Tanner Scheppers is expected to miss at least the first half of this season because he needs surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Saturday that Scheppers will have the operation on Wednesday. He experienced swelling in the knee after a bullpen session during the week.
Scheppers went 4-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 42 appearances in 2015. He started last season in the minors after an ankle sprain slowed him down in spring training.
After earning the start on Opening Day for the Rangers in 2014, he was limited to just 23 innings that season because of an elbow injury.