Yu Darvish will move up a day in the Texas Rangers' rotation and pitch Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, manager Ron Washington said.
"We wanted to keep Darvish pitching on four days' rest," Washington said Tuesday. "He pitched, what, once a week in Japan? We want him to get used to four days down and then pitching on the fifth day."
Darvish will replace lefty Matt Harrison as the third man in the rotation. Washington said he also wanted to avoid having Harrison follow another left-hander in Derek Holland.
Darvish is coming off his second start in the majors on Saturday, when he gave up one earned run in five-plus innings of work but did not factor in the decision.
Darvish, though, is not losing any sleep over the switch.
"It's my job to go out there and pitch whenever I'm told," he said. "It doesn't worry me."