10:26 pm: Max Scherzer told reporters after the game, including Bob Nightengale of USA Today, that his back locked up ahead of the fourth inning. The spasm was unrelated to the batted ball that hit him in the back earlier in the game (per Alden González of ESPN). As reported by Levi Weaver of The Athletic, Scherzer has had this issue before; sometimes, it clears within two or three days, but on some occasions, it has been significantly worse. Thus, his availability for the rest of the series is up in the air.
García, meanwhile, is set to undergo an MRI, per Nightengale.
10:15 pm: Although the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series, it wasn’t all good news for Texas on Monday night. Two of the club’s biggest stars left the game early with injuries: future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer and postseason hero Adolis García.
Scherzer took the mound in the bottom of the fourth, but he would leave the field without throwing another pitch. He held the Diamondbacks scoreless over three innings, needing just 36 pitches to get the first nine outs. However, as he began to warm up for the fourth, manager Bruce Bochy and a trainer came to the mound and walked the 39-year-old off the field. Soon after, the team announced that he had left the game with back tightness (per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic). Presumably, the injury was caused by a comebacker from Alek Thomas that hit him squarely in the back during the second inning.
Scherzer missed the first two series of the postseason as he continued to rehab from the teres major strain he suffered during the regular season. He returned for the ALCS, but after a couple of rough outings, he told reporters (including David Lennon of Newsday) that a cut on his thumb was affecting his performance. Now, yet another injury has prevented the long-time ace from pitching like his typical self in the playoffs. It remains unclear if he will be available for a potential Game 7, should the series reach that point.
Jon Gray was lights out in relief of Scherzer, pitching three scoreless innings of his own, striking out three, and giving up just one hit. He collected the win, the first postseason victory of his career. Unfortunately, that means he won’t be available for Game 4 tomorrow; previously, he had seemed like the leading candidate to get the start. Now, it’s likely that Bochy will hand the ball to one of Dane Dunning or Andrew Heaney, although the leash will be short for either one.
García exited later in the game with tightness in his left side (per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News). He seemed to hurt himself on a bad swing, as he flew out to end the eighth. While the Rangers have not yet provided more specific details about his injury (presumably, he needs to undergo some tests), it seems likely the problem is in his oblique. That could be bad news for the Rangers offense, of which García has been, perhaps, the most productive performer. Entering Game 3, he was leading his team in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, and RBI in the postseason.
Hang it up already, Max.
Would you hang it up if you were making 40+ million for next year??? Lol
Scherzer wasn’t sharp but Gray sure was.
3 scoreless innings with 36 pitches against a potent lineup ain’t all that bad.
Big blow to Babe Ruth here…
The question is, are these losses significant enough to turn it to a guaranteed world series for Arizona? Personally I feel like Arizona will win the world series, regardless.
I think the Rangers win it in 6. They are a team of destiny
They may be a team of destiny but the young scruffy snakes are destiny’s child: they’re a survivor (what?) they’re not gonna give up (what?) they’re not going to stop (what?) they’re gonna work harder
@VegasSDfan: Every year, both teams that reach the World Series are so-called teams of destiny, but only one gets to win.
They’re both teams of destiny.
Though one is destined to lose
The Astros and the Marky Wood Kerry Prior Cubbyes were a team of Dustyiny. How’d that work out
Nothing is guaranteed. It’s baseball. The A’s could win 2 or 3 out of 4 against anybody.
According to many in AZ this is their year. They site circumstances like the pigeon blast by Gallen in ST much like Randy Johnson did in ST in 01. Also, the dates to each WS game are the same as they were when AZ last won. I think there are others, but whatever gets a fan base excited. If the Garcia injury has him miss the rest of the series, I would point there first. He’s been a difference maker with out a doubt.
Those are really dumb things on which to base expectations.
Yup.
I personally use a set of dried chicken bones that I let fall haphazardly onto an oil drum while I consult a Danny Glover in a dark alley about a spate of recent killings he’s investigating.
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The Rangers won, but seemingly also lost tonight. Hard to see that not being an oblique injury with Adolis. If so, his next game is next year.
Same time next year see yas
No, they just won. That’s why they, you know, lead in the series.
We don’t know if either are out for the series yet and Robbie Grossman and Travis Jankowski aren’t bad players if Adolis Garcia can’t play. The Ranger’s lineup is potent. I’m not sure a Max Scherzer loss doesn’t make the Rangers better..
Grossman hasn’t hit at all, they tried him against lefties and he didn’t produce at all. I say give Jankowski a shot. He doesn’t have pop but has hit when he’s played. Maybe the Rangers need to play a little of the D-Backs game and Jankowski could help.
if Garcia is hurt… there is no god.
Spare us the inane hyperbole.
spare us all and end it.
As well you should. Go right ahead.
I’ll update you on the existence of our lord and savior later when MLBTR updates us on the availability of Bombi.
“Our” lord and savior?
If it’s your lord and savior, speak for yourself and don’t presume anything for the rest of us.
Thank you.
telling Santa to put you on the naughty list.
looks like Sunshine is batting 9th. our God… may be deceased, Blue.
Even if he isn’t hurt…
Older guys have more aches and pains. Father time is still undefeated.
He finally got somebody out then pulls up lame. I hope The Rangers finally see the light and do not hand this man the ball in the playoffs. He’s either ineffective,injuried,or both. He’s had a great ride but it’s always something now. Can’t see that changing.
Max Scherzer took the ball for 27 starts and 152.2 innings this year. He actually held up pretty well until the injuries late in the year. Sure, older guys get hurt more but Scherzer has been pretty durable even as he approaches 40. Still, it doesn’t sound like he’ll pitch any more in the Series. He was in bad pain after the injury last night.
There was always a good chance he would get hurt again. He came back for the playoffs at much less than 100% with no rehab starts while managing pain. I can see him coming out in relief again if this series runs deeper.
“Meanwhile” can’t be in the middle of a sentence—it HAS to be at the start. When will you writers learn this?