The Rangers rotation took another ding on Tuesday when Vicente Padilla had to come out of his start against the White Sox after feeling slight pain in a hip muscle. The injury occurred with two out in the fourth inning when Padilla threw ball four to White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin.

Pitching coach Mark Connor came to the mound and was joined soon after by manager Ron Washington. After some discussion, Padilla felt it was best to come out of the game.

"The arm is perfectly fine," Padilla said. "I just felt something on the high part of the [left buttock]. But it was nothing. It bothered me a little bit. I preferred to avoid further injury, then I wouldn't be able to pitch later on. I asked to be taken out. I told Connor that I didn't want to risk it any more, and that's why he called Washington.

"Washington immediately called for another pitcher, to avoid the possibility that I wouldn't be able to pitch during the season."

Padilla was still able to pitch 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two. Both runs were unearned. Quentin reached on a two-out error by shortstop Michael Young in the second, and then Brian Anderson hit a two-run home run. Padilla still hasn't given up an unearned run this spring.

"I felt very good with my pitches," Padilla said. "My location was a little bit of a problem, but I felt good overall."

Padilla will most likely be able to make his next start on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics, unless the Rangers decide to let him get his work in another venue. That could be a simulated or Minor League game.

The Rangers are trying to be cautious this spring when it comes to injury. They are already dealing with Brandon McCarthy's sore right elbow and Kevin Millwood's hamstring setback.

McCarthy has had two MRI exams, and the diagnosis from both is that he has severe inflammation in the elbow/forearm area. He could be sidelined for four to eight weeks. The plan now is for complete rest and be reevaluated in two weeks. He will not start throwing again until the pain has completely subsided.

News and features:

• Washington pleased with Rangers' lineup

• Jennings solid in final Cactus League start

• Guardado eager to fill Rangers' needs

• Rangers finalizing organization's rosters

• Hamilton continues to rake this spring

• Laird tabbed as Rangers' starting backstop

Multimedia:

• Laird's thoughts on catching job  400K

• Wilson reacts to getting closer gig  400K

• Young on Ichiro's praise  400K

• Millwood on first spring start  400K

• Hamilton on spring in Arizona  400K

• Mendoza feeling good  400K

Spring Training info:
• MLB.com coverage  |  Schedule  |  Ballpark  |  Tickets

"We don't want to do anything and have it kick back up again," McCarthy said.

Millwood has yet pitch in a Cactus League game because of a strained right hamstring, but he has made it through two simulated games without a problem. The Rangers haven't decided if he'll pitch in a Cactus League game on Saturday or in another controlled environment. He'll throw a couple of bullpen sessions this week and go through some fielding drills before the Rangers make that decision.

Ponson will also get to pitch in an "A" game on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. Jason Jennings is scheduled to start and go four innings. Ponson, who signed with the Rangers on Sunday and threw in the bullpen on Monday, will follow with two innings.

"His arm works good," Connor said. "You can tell he has been throwing. The ball has movement. [Monday] was the first time I saw him throw. It will be interesting to watch him as we go along."

Ponson is competing with Luis Mendoza for the fifth spot in the rotation. Mendoza gets his chance on the stage when he pitches on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.