Texas Rangers Lose Adolis Garcia, Max Scherzer for World Series, Replace on Roster

The Texas Rangers made roster moves involving Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer before Game 4 of the World Series.

PHOENIX — The Texas Rangers announced before Tuesday’s Game 4 that right fielder Adolis García and starting pitcher Max Scherzer were replaced on the roster and out for the rest of the World Series.

The Rangers replaced García with infielder Ezequiel Duran and Scherzer with left-handed pitcher Brock Burke.

When Rangers manager Bruce Bochy met with the media an hour before facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, it was unclear if either player would be available for the rest of the series as each was receiving treatment for injuries suffered in Game 3.

García suffered what Bochy called a moderate left oblique strain, while Scherzer was dealing with back spasms. Bochy said Scherzer reported to Chase Field on Tuesday with his back “locked up.”

The changes were necessary to ensure the Rangers had a full roster for Game 4. It also makes it clear that the Rangers don’t believe neither García nor Scherzer will recover quickly enough to help them for the rest of the series.

Duran has not played this postseason. Burke was available for the AL Wild Card Series and the AL Division Series, but was replaced for the ALCS and the World Series after both Scherzer and Jon Gray were healthy enough to be activated.

Travis Jankowski remains in the Game starting lineup in right field.

García left in the eighth inning of Game 3 on Monday night after he appeared to hurt his back during a swing.

Duran, 24, last played in the Rangers’ 8-0 loss on Sept. 29 at Seattle. The right-handed batter slashed .276/.324/.443/.768, while setting career highs in hits (112), runs (55), home runs (15), RBI (46) and walks (23) across 122 games. He appeared defensively at shortstop (37 games), left field (34), third base (22), doubles (9), first base (2) and right field (1).

Burke's only postseason appearance came in ALDS Game 2 at Baltimore, when he faced three batters in the ninth inning of the Rangers’ 11-8 victory. Burke had a 5-3 record with 12 holds and a 4.37 ERA in the regular season.

Road Perfect!

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.