Scheppers out for half season with knee injury

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) Texas Rangers right-hander Tanner Scheppers has torn cartilage in his left knee and will miss at least the first half of the season, general manager Jon Daniels said Saturday.

Scheppers, who was 4-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 42 relief appearances last year, is scheduled for surgery Wednesday. His knee became swollen after a bullpen session earlier in the week.

He was setback by a right ankle sprain in spring training 2015, which preceded an 11.25 ERA in five April appearances and a demotion to Triple-A Round Rock, where he had a 1.93 ERA in 13 games.

Scheppers, a 2009 first-round draft pick, was the Rangers' opening day starter in 2014, but an elbow injury that year limited him to 23 innings.