ARLINGTON -- Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has been cleared to take batting practice and is hoping to start a medical rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Frisco as early as Monday.Andrus, who is currently on the 60-day disabled list, has been out since April 11 with a fractured bone in his right

ARLINGTON -- Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has been cleared to take batting practice and is hoping to start a medical rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Frisco as early as Monday.

Andrus, who is currently on the 60-day disabled list, has been out since April 11 with a fractured bone in his right elbow. He has been throwing without limitations and hitting soft-toss pitching. Full batting practice is the final step before a rehab assignment.

"It's going really good," Andrus said. "We want to make sure we have no problems. I understand there is going to be soreness in the muscle and tendon, but as long as the bone is good, everything else is part of the process."

Andrus is on the disabled list for the first time in his career after getting hit by a pitch thrown by Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton . Andrus is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday, but he won't be ready at that point.

"I still need this week [of batting practice] to get my timing down," Andrus said. "I can do everything, it's about getting back to playing every day. I'm feeling good and getting better every day."

Andrus is looking at a week of games in the Minor Leagues before being ready to be activated.

"I would say conservatively," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "It depends on how he recovers and how everything goes. He's getting really close."

Rangers beat

• Adrian Beltre was out of the starting lineup on Wednesday for the second time in six games since being activated off the disabled list. Banister said he expects Beltre to be at designated hitter on Thursday against the Astros. He has started at third base just once in the four games he has played since returning.

• Reliever Chris Martin earned his first Major League victory when he pitched a scoreless eighth in the Rangers' 7-4 win on Tuesday. It was his 62nd Major League appearance.

• Reliever Jose Leclerc has allowed just one of 21 inherited runners to score going into Wednesday's game.