First Max Scherzer Start for Texas Rangers 'Penciled In'

The Texas Rangers expect to see Max Scherzer on Monday for a bullpen session, but the Rangers must also reset their rotation.

Bruce Bochy “penciled in” the first Max Scherzer start for the Texas Rangers on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox.

That’s a tentative designation, as the Rangers did not release pitching probables for their upcoming home series with the White Sox, which starts Tuesday.

The Rangers (60-46) are off Monday, and the Rangers expect to have Scherzer at Globe Life Field for a bullpen session.

As Scherzer started on Friday, that would be a normal bullpen session between starts for the three-time Cy Young award winner, who was acquired in a trade Saturday.

How the Rangers arrange their rotation moving forward will probably be a point of conversation on Monday, too. In fact, getting an off-day allows Bochy and the coaching staff to reset the rotation with the other new acquisitions, if they wish.

With the trade for Jordan Montgomery on Sunday, the Rangers now have seven potential starting pitchers to choose from — and that does not include Nathan Eovaldi, who is on the 15-day injured list.

The Rangers have two pitchers that could start on Tuesday on normal or extra rest — Jon Gray, who last started July 24, and Andrew Heaney, who last started Wednesday.

Montgomery, like Scherzer, last started on Friday, meaning that lefty could start as early as Wednesday on normal rest. Dane Dunning could also start on Wednesday, if the Rangers wanted, as that would be his normal starting day.

Martín Pérez pitched on Saturday in San Diego and would be ready to pitch on normal rest on Thursday. Cody Bradford — who made a spot start for the Rangers on Sunday — would be available on Friday.

None of this takes into account what the Rangers intend to do with the surplus. Will the Rangers go to a six-man rotation? Who will they move to the bullpen?

The new pitchers, along with the off day, give the Rangers a chance to take their new arms for a spin and give their beleaguered rotation a little extra rest.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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