" Rich Harden will pitch the next time the Rangers need a fifth starter, Washington said, but the rotation will be shuffled this week because of two off days.

The soonest Harden could pitch again is Saturday against Boston. The Rangers, though, are off today and Thursday, and could skip his next turn or push him back as they line up their pitchers for a stretch of 20 consecutive games.

"With these off days, we're going to make some adjustments, but he's going to get the ball," Washington said. "We could skip him. That doesn't mean we will. But he's going to get the ball."

Harden walked five and hit a batter in 2 1/3 innings Saturday as the Rangers lost, 6-1. The right-hander threw 65 pitches, 32 of them strikes. "