Rangers scratch Hamels because of neck stiffness

The Texas Rangers scratched left-hander Cole Hamels from Thursday’s start against the Chicago White Sox due to neck stiffness.

Hamels said he woke up Wednesday with a stiff neck and it kept getting worse. He could barely sit on the Rangers’ plane ride from Seattle to Chicago.

“Sometimes in hotels it happens, I guess,” he said. “Everything comes down to timing. If this happened the day after we could get through it and get to the next game. Something that happens right before your start, there’s not enough time to be able to get right and go out there and give your team six, seven innings and a hundred pitches without something really disastrous happening.”

Doug Fister moved up one day to pitch the series opener against the White Sox on regular rest. The veteran righthander tossed 6 1/3 innings in Saturday’s 6-1 loss at Houston, yielding three runs.

Asked about the possibilities for today’s starter, Rangers manager Jeff Banister mentioned Hamels, MattMoore and Austin Bibens-Dirkx at TripleA Round Rock. But Hamels said he thinks he will need more time for his neck to loosen up.

The 34-year- old Hamels is 2- 4 with a 3.48 ERA in nine starts this season. BRAVES PLACE SOROKA ON DL » Braves rookie Mike Soroka said tightness in the back of his right shoulder is not a big concern, even though he’s been placed on the disabled list for the first time in his four-year pro career. Soroka, the major leagues’ youngest pitcher at 20, told Manager Brian Snitker that he wasn’t feeling 100 percent heading into his start Thursday against the Cubs. PIRATES TO ADD TOP PROSPECT » Pittsburgh plans to recall top outfield prospect Austin Meadows from Triple-A Indianapolis in time for tonight’s game against San Diego.