Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander Join Texas Rangers-Astros Rivalry
ARLINGTON, Texas – Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander were teammates going into the weekend. Now they’re foes in trying to lead the Silver Boot rivals into the playoffs.
Scherzer officially joined the Texas Rangers roster on Tuesday, the same day Verlander was traded back to the Houston Astros. The pair of aces were expected to lead the New York Mets to the promised land not that long ago.
That’s their new goal in the Lone Star State.
Scherzer joined a club leading the American League West and with World Series aspirations. Leaving a difficult situation with the Mets, who went into sell mode, for Texas is a definite “jolt.”
“Every time I take the mound, I don’t care if I’m in first or last, I’m coming out there to pitch at 100%,” he said Tuesday in his first media session at Globe Life Field. “I’m going to give you everything I’ve got, every single time. But I’m not an idiot. When you have first place on the line and you have an organization that’s trying to win, and it’s right in front of us right now.
“Where we’re at in the season, there’s definitely a jolt. I like pitching in these situations. I like having the ball in this type of atmosphere. I don’t get fazed by it. I actually want to rise up to it. So for me, it’s good to be in the spot.”
Despite leading the division, Scherzer comes to Texas at a precarious time. The Rangers are trying to hold off the Astros, while dealing with a number of injuries.
Three All-Stars are in the injured list – shortstop Corey Seager, catcher Jonah Heim and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi – as the calendar has flipped to August. Seager (thumb) is expected back soon. The outlook is a little murkier for other two.
Heim (wrist) is out at least 2-3 weeks doing rest and rehab, with season-ending surgery on the table. The Rangers did trade for additional catching depth before the deadline, adding Austin Hedges from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Eovaldi has become the staff ace in the absence of Jacob deGrom. He’d form a formidable 1-2 punch with Scherzer, but forearm soreness has led to an IL stint. The expectation is it’s not serious, but when the pitching arm is involved, anything can happen.
The Astros have dealt with their share of injuries, especially to their rotation, so a return engagement with Verlander makes sense. The former Cy Young Award winner helped Houston win the World Series last season.
Scherzer, slated to make his Texas debut Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, wasn’t surprised Verlander was traded. They were also teammates with the Detroit Tigers (2010-14) before their brief reunion in New York.
“It was great to pitch with him again, see where he’s developed, where he really has excelled, where he really sees the game, how he sees his pitches and what makes him tick, where he sees success,” Scherzer said. “It was a good chance to catch back up with him.”
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