Pitcher Max Scherzer Returning from injured list He was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers and is expected to start Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
“Max is feeling good, so I’m feeling good,” manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. Including Kennedy Landry of MLB.com.
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.
Bochy said Scherzer won’t have his pitches counted on Sunday.
“We’ll watch the games and see how he feels in each inning,” Bochy said, via the Associated Press. “He’s pitching as hard as he can. We’re not going to put any limitations on him.”
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.
