SEATTLE - Wearing a T-shirt bearing the Texas flag and the "Come and Take It" logo, Conroe native Andrew Cashner waxed about the reality of making his first start for the Rangers Saturday.

"Any time you can put the Texas flag on your sleeve, it's a good day," Cashner said Friday. "I'm proud to be from Texas and I look forward to repping my home state."

Cashner will be activated for the start after spending the first 10 days of the season on the DL, manager Jeff Banister confirmed Friday. Cashner missed about two weeks of spring training with biceps tendinitis.

His most recent outing was Monday in an extended spring training game against San Diego minor leaguers in which he threw 76 pitches. He had one "A" game of work this spring, working three innings against Cleveland, which had pulled most of its regulars by the time he entered. Banister said he expects Cashner to be able to go 95-100 pitches, though that seems a bit high. The only Ranger starter to reach 95 pitches in his first outing was Yu Darvish, who had 98.

When Cashner is activated, the Rangers will have to make a corresponding move to create room on the 25-man roster. The most likely choices are long reliever Nick Martinez and lefty Dario Alvarez.