Texas Rangers Ace Max Scherzer Reveals When He'll Make His Season Debut

The Texas Rangers will finally have one of their Cy Young winners back in the starting rotation this weekend.

Jun 2, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) looks on from inside the dugout against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON — Max Scherzer will make his season debut on Sunday with the Texas Rangers, both Scherzer and manager Bruce Bochy confirmed on Saturday.

Scherzer, 39, will face the Kansas City Royals in the final game of their three-game series at Globe Life Field.

Earlier this week, some national outlets reported that Scherzer would return this weekend, with one report getting as specific as Saturday. When asked about that on Wednesday, Bochy would not confirm and said he needed to speak to Scherzer after the right-hander’s bullpen session.

Scherzer said the Rangers took an extra day after he informed them about some discomfort with the nerve issue in his arm after his last bullpen session. He admitted he's been chomping at the bit to get back on the mound. Bochy said Scherzer doesn't have a set pitch count for Sunday.

Jon Gray will start Saturday's game. Bochy said Dane Dunning will move to the bullpen for now to accommodate Scherzer's return. The Rangers need to make a roster move to activate Scherzer.

The right-hander has been trying to work his way back from herniated disc surgery, a procedure he underwent in December.

Initially, the belief was Scherzer would be ready by the end of June. But when the season started he was placed on the 15-day injured list. At one point in April, Scherzer said he felt ahead of schedule.

He took an April rehab outing with Triple-A Round Rock, where he gave up three runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings. He also struck out four hitters. But, shortly after, he took a step back after a nerve issue in his thumb flared up. That led the Rangers to move him to the 60-day IL.

Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner, has made two rehab starts in June, both with Round Rock. The first, against Oklahoma City, saw him retire the first eight hitters he faced as he didn’t allow a run or a walk. He allowed a hit and struck out five.

Last weekend against Tacoma he threw 79 pitches and gave up three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. He also allowed four hits and two walks, while he struck out eight.

He joined the Rangers at last season’s trade deadline and helped them win the first World Series in franchise history. 

He went a combined 13-6 with the New York Mets and Rangers last year, finishing with a 3.77 ERA. With the Rangers he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA.