Pitcher Max Scherzer Returning from injured list He was acquired from the Texas Rangers on Sunday and made his 2024 season debut against the Kansas City Royals.
“Max is feeling good, so I’m feeling good,” manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. Including Kennedy Landry of MLB.comBefore the game.
Scherzer, a 17-year veteran, was strong in his first start of the season. Against the Royals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Scherzer allowed just one hit over five innings while striking out four to lead the Rangers to a 4-0 victory. Scherzer’s only hit was when MJ Melendez reached base on a one-out double in the fifth inning.
Scherzer, who turns 40 on July 24, has not pitched this year as he is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a herniated disk. He last pitched for the Rangers in Game 3 of last season’s World Series, leaving the game after three innings with back tightness.
Right-hander Yerry Rodriguez was demoted to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for Scherzer on the 26-man roster.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, began a minor league rehab assignment in late April but was bothered by soreness in his right thumb after a start at Round Rock on April 24. Scherzer said team doctors diagnosed a nerve issue affecting his right forearm and triceps.
Once the pain subsided, he made two more rehab appearances on June 9 and June 15. In his final rehab appearance, he struck out eight batters over 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs.
Scherzer went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 45 innings in eight starts last season after joining the Rangers from the New York Mets. In the postseason, he gave up seven runs and 11 hits in 9 2/3 innings.
Scherzer joins a Rangers starting rotation that has been plagued by injuries this season, with Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning each on the disabled list and Corey Bradford still sidelined, while Jacob deGrom and Tyler Murray are both returning from Tommy John surgery and hopeful of playing after the All-Star break.
The Rangers’ win on Sunday marked their third straight victory over the Royals and improved to 37-40 this season. They still sit more than six games behind in the AL West standings.
