Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer is hoping to return soon, but he suffered a minor injury setback in his latest rehab start.
Max Scherzer Injury Update
Max Scherzer was reportedly scheduled to make his second rehab start on Tuesday. The three-time Cy Young winner has been working hard to return but was scratched from his scheduled start with a sore right thumb, an injury he suffered in his first rehab start last Wednesday. Now, Scherzer’s second rehab start is being pushed back by at least a few days. Rangers general manager Chris Young provided a Max Scherzer injury update on Tuesday, via Bally Sports Southwest.
“I trust Max, I wouldn’t even describe this as being a bump in the road more than just the normal build up,” Young said. “He’s done so much so quickly to try to put himself in position to get back. At some point we thought there would be a little soreness… that would maybe limit his recovery. So we just want to make sure when he takes the mound he’s 100 percent recovered. This is perfectly normal for this time of year.”
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy later described it as a “minor setback” and said the Rangers are not going to push Scherzer. Bochy did not appear to be especially worried or concerned.
An update on Max Scherzer ⬇️
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/xnc9UwMcwc— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) April 30, 2024
Scherzer made his debut with the Rangers in 2023. He began the season with the New York Mets, but was acquired by Texas ahead of the trade deadline. Scherzer ultimately pitched to a respectable 3.20 ERA and 0.956 WHIP across eight starts (45 innings pitched) with the Rangers.
This Max Scherzer injury is far from ideal, but the Rangers still project to be a contender. In addition to Scherzer, Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle are also on the injured list. Yet, the Rangers are 15-14 and in second place in the American League West despite all of their injury trouble.
Scherzer recently expressed his desire to win another World Series with the Rangers. If Texas manages to repeat as champions, it would be the third Fall Classic victory of Scherzer’s career.
The Rangers will not rush Scherzer back. MLB features a long 162-game season so Texas will proceed with caution. Still, it seems likely that we will see a Max Scherzer return sooner rather than later, even with this latest setback.
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