"He's had some stiffness and we certainly don't want him to hurt himself any further," manager Ron Washington said Wednesday. "We're just going to wait and see how it goes."

Since being traded from the Chicago White Sox for John Danks before the 2007 season, McCarthy has been on the disabled list four times. He made only five starts (22 innings) last season after missing four months because of right forearm inflammation.

McCarthy has been throwing since December and took part in offseason workouts without any problems. He said the stiffness isn't a concern yet because his elbow and forearm feel fine.

"It might be a fatigue thing at this point, or something else random, I don't really know," McCarthy said. "Hopefully it just responds to treatment here in the next day and I can keep going as normal. ... I think it might just be an early spring training thing."

McCarthy was limited to 23 games in 2007 because of blisters on his pitching hand and a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade. Last season, he was bothered by a strained tendon in his right middle finger.

The Rangers had an off day Tuesday, and McCarthy said he didn't know the team planned to skip his start until asked by reporters while he watched reliever Brendan Donnelly throw a simulated game.

"Right now, it's whatever they feel is best for me," he said. "I put myself in their hands, if that's what I need. And it's early. That's fine."

McCarthy was slowed by a sore elbow during spring training last year. He threw one inning in his only appearance and didn't pitch for the Rangers during the regular season until late August.

"This guy wants to get out here and prove that he's ready to pitch," Washington said.