ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The aching pitching arm of Texas Rangers right-hander Kevin Millwood felt a little better Monday.

Whether he makes his next scheduled start is up to team management and medical personnel, however.

Texas’ No. 1 starter left Sunday night’s game in the fourth inning with a strained right biceps. The Rangers lost to the Houston Astros 9-5.

He complained of feeling “a dull ache” in his arm. That sensation was still there on Monday.

“But it’s a little better than it was,” Millwood said. “No real sharp pain or anything, just kind of an uncomfortable feeling.”

Millwood, who signed a five-year, $60 million free agent deal in December to be the anchor of the Texas rotation, was checked out by team physician Dr. Keith Meister before Monday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. General manager Jon Daniels said Meister could find nothing serious.

The AL ERA champion with a 2.86 mark for Cleveland last season, Millwood has a 4.83 ERA in 18 starts for the Rangers.

Millwood’s next scheduled start is Friday night against the Minnesota Twins, and manager Buck Showalter said there was a chance Millwood would be skipped. With the All-Star break, Millwood would then have at least 10 days between starts.

“If there’s caution to be taken, we’ll take it,” Showalter said.

John Wasdin would start in Millwood’s place on Friday, but Millwood said he’d prefer to remain in the rotation.

“If they decided that is the best thing, then I’ll probably do it,” Millwood said of skipping a start. “I’ll do what’s best for me and for the team. But I’m not here to rest. I want to pitch. You never like to have injuries to your arm or anything but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”

Millwood is set for a bullpen session on Wednesday, and if he passes that, he’ll likely start against the Twins.

In 3 1-3 innings against Houston, his second-shortest outing of the season, Millwood allowed nine hits and six runs.

Millwood allowed a career-high 12 hits over six innings in his previous start against San Francisco.

Teammates expressed concern about their top starter, who had won five straight decisions before losing his last two.

“We depend on Kevin a lot. But I know Kevin will do what it takes to get back on the mound,” shortstop Michael Young said. “He’s a gamer.”

AP-ES-07-03-06 2043EDT