Pitcher Max Scherzer was activated from the injured list by 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 too,” manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. including MLB.com’s Kennedi Landrybefore the match.
The 17-year veteran certainly looked good in his first start of the season. Scherzer allowed just one hit over five innings with four strikeouts as he led the Rangers to a 4-0 win over the Royals at Globe Life Field in Arlington. He didn’t allow that hit until the fifth inning, when MJ Melendez reached base with an one-out double.
Scherzer’s four strikeouts tied Greg Maddux for 11th on the MLB all-time strikeout list, according to MLB.com.
Scherzer, who turns 40 on July 24, has not pitched yet this year while recovering from offseason surgery for a hernia. He last appeared for the Rangers last season in Game 3 of the World Series, where he pitched three innings before leaving with back tightness.
Max Scherzer says the nerve problem in his throwing arm is still an issue. He doesn’t know how his arm will react to this start. It seems his situation is still precarious. pic.twitter.com/asONgmCDxV
— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) June 23, 2024
After throwing 57 pitches on Sunday, Scherzer said he felt good but now has to wait and see how his arm responds.
“Everything from a baseball standpoint told me to get back out there,” he said after the match. “I’m throwing well, I’m throwing the ball well. I just don’t know how I’m going to recover from this. The problem with the thumb is still there. I do feel fatigue in my forearm… I have the next start in five days to make.”
Scherzer’s rehab assignment and setback
The three-time Cy Young Award winner began a minor league rehab assignment in late April but suffered a setback with right thumb soreness after starting for Round Rock on April 24. Scherzer revealed that team doctors diagnosed a nerve problem extending to his right side. forearm and triceps.
Once the pain subsided, he made two more rehabilitation starts on June 9 and 15. In that final rehab appearance, he struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits.
After being traded from the New York Mets to the Rangers, Scherzer compiled a 3.20 ERA and 4-2 record in eight starts with 53 strikeouts in 45 innings last season. He allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 9 2/3 innings during the postseason.
Scherzer joins a Rangers starting rotation that has dealt with several injuries this season. Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning have each spent time on the injured list, while Cory Bradford remains sidelined. Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle are coming off Tommy John surgery and hope to be available again after the All-Star break.
The Rangers’ win on Sunday, which completed a three-game sweep of the Royals, moved them to 37-40 on the season. They are still more than six games back in the AL West standings.
