Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison to undergo MRI after back stiffness

Rangers lefty Matt Harrison made only two starts last season before a back injury.. (Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)

The Texas Rangers will temporarily shut down pitcher Matt Harrison after he experienced stiffness in his lower back, reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

The team is returning Harrison back to Texas from spring training in Surprise, Ariz. to undergo an MRI, after he threw a full bullpen session on Sunday.

Harrison only made two starts last season, losing both games, before suffering a herniated disk in his lower back. He had surgery twice and ended up missing the rest of the season.

He went 18-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts in 2012.

"I was 100 percent, and now I'm having some tightness there and I don't know," Harrison said. "I felt a little bit [Wednesday], and when I got up this morning, it was worse. I was ready to come in here and throw my live BP, it's just not happening."

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"He's uncomfortable right now," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's thrown a lot this winter without any issues. Unfortunately, it's picked up again. Hopefully it's just some irritation he can push through, they can prescribe some medication and get him going."