Texas Rangers Ace Max Scherzer 'Ready to Go,' Eyes ALCS Return

The Texas Rangers have until Sunday to set their roster for the ALCS, but it appears Max Scherzer will return from injury to rejoin the pitching staff.

ARLINGTON, Texas — With a decision looming about the availability of Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer, it’s clear where the three-time Cy Young winner stands.

“I feel good,” Scherzer said Friday. “Recovered. Checked all of the boxes that I can, so I’m ready to go.”

Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux provided more context on the simulated game that Scherzer threw Wednesday. The club is encouraged that Scherzer could be active for the American League Championship Series, which starts Sunday at the rival Houston Astros.

Maddux put a precise number on the pitches Scherzer threw on Wednesday — 68. He also said that the Rangers had a Trackman set up to monitor each pitch.

You know Max Scherzer is desperate to be on the #Rangers ALCS roster ...#GoAndTakeIt #MaxScherzer pic.twitter.com/jqHiRTayBe

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) October 13, 2023

What encouraged Maddux the most was how the right-hander sustained his velocity and endurance throughout the session.

“He didn’t skip a beat from 1 to 68,” Maddux said. “That was the encouraging part.”

Friday’s bullpen session, Maddux said, was to help Scherzer sharpen up his command. It comes on the heels of Scherzer playing catch on Thursday and recovering well from Wednesday’s simulated game.

Asked how far he could go in an playoff game, Scherzer was noncommittal.

“I don’t know,” Scherzer said. “I can’t answer that question. It’s just going to be played by ear.”

Scherzer added that his potential workload would be determined in conversations with Bochy and Maddux.

After his bullpen session in the home bullpen at Globe Life Field, Scherzer did some PFP (pitchers fielding practice) in the infield and joked that he only does it twice a year.

Scherzer has been out since Sept. 12 with a strained teres major muscle (upper shoulder) that he suffered against Toronto. He is on the injured list but is eligible to be activated. The Rangers have left him off both the AL Wild Card and the Division Series rosters, though Bochy said Scherzer could have been an injury replacement later in the series.

Bochy added Thursday that Scherzer would probably be in position to start in the ALCS if activated.

During the team’s celebration on Tuesday, Scherzer said he was hoping the postseason would continue so he could just get “a chance” to return to the mound.

“Let me get back into this thing,” Scherzer said. “I’ve been grinding away, just doing everything I can to just be in a position to have a chance. The guys going out there and provide that chance, so I gotta go out there and still do my work and hopefully we’ll be ready for next time.”

Scherzer was 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 45 innings since joining the Rangers via a trade on Aug. 1. Scherzer is 7-7 with one save in 27 postseason appearances, with a 3.58 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 133 1/3 innings.

The Rangers don’t have to finalize their postseason roster until Sunday morning. Even if Scherzer isn’t ready, he could be activated as an injury replacement during the series.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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