Any expectations of a quick return from a shoulder injury for Rangers starter A.J. Griffin have evaporated.

Griffin, on the disabled list since May 8 with a shoulder strain, is eligible to be activated Monday but still hasn't thrown off a mound. That is not yet visible on the horizon. It means he's likely to have to build some arm strength back and to make multiple rehab starts before returning to the rotation.

At one point, the Rangers had hoped Griffin might be able to slide right back into the rotation as soon as he was eligible to come off the DL. With the likelihood Yu Darvish will return from the DL this week, it would have given the team the possibility to use a six-man rotation for a stretch of 43 games in 45 days between Friday and the All-Star break.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant