Max Scherzer Injury Update: Return To Texas Rangers Rotation Delayed By Thumb Soreness So 'Nothing Bad Happens'

Max Scherzer delayed his second rehab start because of soreness in the thumb on his throwing hand. Scherzer, who is returning from December back surgery, said the injury just needs a few extra days to subside.

Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer scratched his second rehab start on Tuesday night because of ligament soreness in his thumb on his throwing hand. Scherzer said the injury just needs a few days of rest. / Stefan Stevenson/Inside the Rangers

ARLINGTON —

Right-hander Max Scherzer hit a speedbump on his fast-track return to the Texas Rangers rotation.

The future Hall of Famer has delayed his next rehab start because of ligament soreness in his throwing thumb. He was scheduled to make his second rehab start Tuesday night with Double-A Frisco at Corpus Christi.

He made his first rehab start last week with Triple-A Round Rock.

Scherzer, who turns 40 in July, says a few days of rest should be enough for the issue to subside. He first detected discomfort in the thumb during a simulated game in Atlanta two weeks ago, ahead of his initial rehab start on April 24.

"It was okay in the rehab start; I was able to manage it, but going through this turn in the rotation coming out of the bullpen, it was just going to get worse, and then it was starting to leak into the forearm," Scherzer said. "The forearm was getting tight on me, and once I started getting forearm tightness, we made that decision [Monday] to scratch the start."

Though frustrated with the delay, Scherzer, manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Chris Young aren't too concerned.

Max Scherzer updates his situation ... pic.twitter.com/qYwmmabYky

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) April 30, 2024

"It's a minor setback, and we're talking days, not weeks," Bochy said. "We'll let this thing clear up, and we'll get him back to work. We're not going to push him. You have to expect these things. He's coming back from a pretty good layoff. The good news is, it's not his back. His thumb is a little sore and that will clear up."

In fact, Scherzer said the point of the rest is to make sure "nothing bad happens."

"I just need a couple of days to let everything breathe, get everything back underneath me," he said. "There's nothing really structurally wrong, it's just some discomfort and I just need to let that subside so nothing bad happens. I'm not overly concerned. This will go away, I just need some time to let it breathe."

Scherzer has been on a faster timetable since December's back surgery than originally expected. He could still be ready to rejoin the Rangers rotation by Mother's Day weekend in Colorado. The Rangers initially weren't expecting Scherzer to return until early June.

"You want to be out there pitching," he said. "Coming off the back surgery, I've jumped through every hoop and really put myself in position to help the team out sooner than anybody thought. And the reason I'm not going out there's is a thumb injury, not the back."

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