Max Scherzer, the renowned three-time Cy Young Award winner, faced a rough outing in his first start for the Texas Rangers after the All-Star break. In an 8-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, Scherzer's performance was marred by arm fatigue, forcing him to exit after just two innings. He allowed four runs as eight of the 14 batters he faced managed to get on base.
Despite the setback, Scherzer remained positive. "Once I got out there, the fatigue was affecting my stuff and my location. I knew I needed to come out of the ballgame; otherwise, I was risking further injury," Scherzer explained. "The good news is that I didn’t have any zings, I didn’t strain anything."
It was a disappointing evening for Scherzer, who is approaching his 40th birthday. This was only his sixth start since undergoing back surgery in the offseason. Scherzer had thrown four innings the previous Sunday in a planned shorter outing and believed he was ready for this start after a bullpen session on Wednesday. However, concerns about his pitch count and potential issues proved to be justified.
José Ureña stepped in to replace Scherzer at the start of the third inning, with the Rangers already trailing 4-0. Scherzer's velocity was notably down, with his 20 fastballs averaging 91.3 mph, compared to his season average of 92.7 mph. His 11 sliders and 11 changeups also lacked their usual zip.
Manager Bruce Bochy was cautious with Scherzer's health. "That's a lot of pitches for two innings. I didn’t want to push him anymore. That was far enough," Bochy said. "We’ve got to keep him healthy and fresh."
Reflecting on the game, Scherzer admitted, "This is part of the ramp-up of trying to get into midseason form as fast as I can, and the arm just got a little fatigued."
Bochy added, "We always check to see how they’re doing the next day, how they came out of it. But I think he’s going to be fine."
Scherzer's stats for the night included 34 strikes out of 53 pitches, five hits allowed, and two walks. He managed to strike out one batter, bringing him within two of tying for 10th place on baseball’s career strikeout list. Unfortunately, he also committed a throwing error after fielding a bunt single.
Scherzer's shortest outing prior to this was on June 11, 2021, when he threw only 12 pitches for Washington before exiting due to a groin tweak. Following surgery last December to repair a herniated disk in his lower back, Scherzer faced a nerve issue during his rehab, diagnosed after experiencing right thumb soreness.
In his six starts this season, Scherzer has pitched 29 1/3 innings, with 24 strikeouts, six walks, and a 3.99 ERA. Before being limited to four innings against Houston before the break, he had pitched into the seventh inning in consecutive starts.
Despite the tough game against Baltimore, neither Scherzer nor Bochy seemed overly concerned. Scherzer emphasized the importance of managing his recovery and staying in peak condition to avoid further injury.
"This is just a bump in the road," Scherzer stated confidently. "I’m focused on getting back to my best and helping the team win."
The Rangers, who have been dealing with a series of injuries and challenges this season, are hopeful that Scherzer will soon return to his dominant form. His experience and skill are invaluable assets to the team, especially as they aim for a strong finish to the season.
Scherzer's dedication and resilience are evident, and his ability to overcome adversity has been a hallmark of his illustrious career. As he continues to work on his recovery, fans and teammates alike are optimistic that he will soon be back to his usual self, striking out batters and leading the Rangers to victory.
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