Texas Rangers' Pitching Staff Gets Huge Boost as ALCS Roster Released

The Texas Rangers have added Max Scherzer and Jon Gray to their ALCS roster as they get ready to play the Houston Astros.
Texas Rangers' Pitching Staff Gets Huge Boost as ALCS Roster Released
Texas Rangers' Pitching Staff Gets Huge Boost as ALCS Roster Released /
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As the Texas Rangers get set to open the ALCS on Sunday night against the Houston Astros, the pitching staff has gotten a huge boost.

Both Max Scherzer and Jon Gray, who were on the injured list at the end of the regular season, have been added to the roster.

Per the Rangers press release:

The Texas Rangers today announced the club’s 2023 American League Championship Series roster for the best-of-seven postseason series against the Houston Astros.

The Rangers’ only changes from the club’s American League Division Series roster: right-handed pitchers Jon Gray and Max Scherzer added; left-handed pitcher Brock Burke and right-handed pitcher Matt Bush removed.

It's unknown how much that Scherzer and Gray will be able to contribute, but the fact that they are healthy enough to pitch is a huge benefit for Bruce Bochy's club. We know that Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi will start Games 1 and 2, but could Scherzer and Gray start games 3 and 4?

Will both pitchers be able to utilize a full workload? Are they better served as openers? As relievers? We'll get the answers as we move through the series.

Beyond Scherzer and Gray, the usual suspects have made the Rangers' group of 26. They'll carry Evan Carter, Adolis Garcia, Robbie Grossman, Travis Jankowski and Leody Taveras in the outfield. Josh Jung, Nathaniel Lowe, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Josh Smith make up the infield while the Rangers carry three catchers: Mitch Garver, Jonah Heim and Austin Hedges. 

Scherzer, Gray, Montgomery, Eovaldi, Cody Bradford, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning, Aroldis Chapman, Jose Leclerc, Martin Perez, Josh Sborz, Will Smith and Chris Stratton round out the pitching staff.

Game 1 is Sunday night at 8:07 p.m. ET.


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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.