The Rangers have been without Max Scherzer since mid-September, but the three-time Cy Young winner hasn’t given up hope of pitching in the postseason. Indeed, he seems to be progressing well toward that goal.
His teammates did their part on Wednesday afternoon, beating the Rays to win the AL Wild Card Series and advance to the ALDS. Scherzer, meanwhile, pitched another bullpen session (according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News), ramping up the intensity with which he threw. The veteran described the session as “pain-free” and seemed excited about his progress, calling out in triumph as he made his way back to the clubhouse. While he’ll have to wait to see how his body reacts in the coming days, that sounds like promising news.
As the Rangers celebrated their first postseason series victory in over a decade, Scherzer had his trademarked look of determination in his eyes (per Tyler Kepner of The Athletic). “Based on today, I’m turning a corner, I see a path,” the future Hall of Famer said. “You never know.” Based on those comments, it doesn’t sound like his return is fast approaching – he remains doubtful for the ALDS – but the deeper the Rangers play into October, the more likely it is that Scherzer can get back on the mound.
Thanks to a couple of off days in the ALDS schedule, the Rangers could get through the second round of the playoffs with just three starting pitchers. After that, however, they will almost certainly require a fourth starter – if they advance to the ALCS. Andrew Heaney could fill that need, as could Jon Gray if his health allows. Still, Texas would surely rather have Scherzer in that role. In eight starts with the Rangers this season, he pitched to a 3.20 ERA, striking out nearly 30% of the batters he faced. Not to mention, the 2019 World Series champion has a lengthy postseason resume, including a 3.47 ERA in 22 playoff starts. He has also made five relief appearances, racking up ten strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings out of the ’pen. If Scherzer isn’t stretched out to start by the ALCS, he could serve a valuable role as a not-so-secret weapon in the later innings.
7 ER 4.1 IP that’s my guess for his first start
Exactly, he’ll work hard to get back to throw a dud, just like he did in the Mets postseason last year
Sounds more like jealousy from Mets fans that they missed the playoffs with a 400 MM patroll including taxes than any genuine prediction
just let them talk.
I hope this ages well, only because I wanna see the Orioles win?
54%
Two AL East teams get swept again. Man, that AL East is so tough. LOL
3 AL East teams made the playoffs. That’s pretty legit. Anyone can get swept in that short series.
Sorry to see the Marlin’s season end, but it looked like the Phillies are a different caliber team.
I won’t be surprised if the Phillies Braves series goes 5 games. Philly just seems to be able to kick it up a notch in the playoffs.
It should be seven games.
It’s still almost a one game series… it’s just not… how do you make the wild card fair without discrediting the divisional series or without modification to the divional series? Lol funny place baseball has found its self in
Braves > Dodgers
Phillies > Braves
Dodgers > Phillies
Texas fans don’t let Max do this to you!! He’s not gonna pitch. He’s such a selfish player that the focus is not on Texas winning,it’s his quest to get back on the mound. And if by some miracle he does pitch. He’ll get shellacked and blame it on coming back to soon because he wanted to “help the team”. I think it’s more about where Max views himself in a historical context and he is a no doubt hall of famer. He’s 39 with a load of mileage and it shows. He genuinely thinks he’s gonna beat father time.
Still better than half the bullpen…
That may be true until he tweaks something warming up. Nobody in it this year really has a lockdown bullpen but I like Texas. They can really swing it and Baltimore pitching is just a spotty as Texas’s so it’s a push. I think the winner of the ATL-Philly is gonna win it all. Just my thoughts.
Don’t count out the Dodgers or Astros. It’s probably in my opinion: Braves, Dodgers, Astros, Rays, Rangers, Phillies, and the rest in terms of power rankings (I am considering run differential and how much of the team is still there, not just win loss)
Phillies not beating LA lol.
what a take.
the ultimate “damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
I believe texas fans will take whatever they can get when it comes to pitching at the moment.
A little salty.
Next Year: Kershaw/Montgomery (closing a 38 game gap in the AL West will certainly increase Texas’s chances), Eovaldi, Scherzer, Dunning, and Gray
Next postseason: Kershaw, deGrom, Eovaldi, Scherzer, and Dunning (Montgomery is 2 or 3 if he is signed instead of the GOAT)
The 2 lowest career ERAs of the expansion era back to back with Carter and Langford in the lineup and probably a rookie of the year to gain a comp pick! So much hope
It’s nice to dream. I think DeGrom is finished. I watched him his whole career and other then prime Pedro I’ve never seen a more dominant stretch of pitching. All that velo on such a slight frame has done a number on his body. I’ve never seen a guy add 4+5 mph after age 30 not on PEDS so the pitcher he became was incredible because he can paint. He’s got the offspeed and breaking stuff so if he learned to pitch with diminished stuff then it’s a maybe. 2 TJS? I’m really rooting for him. I don’t see Kershaw ever leaving LA. But Montgomery is definitely a possibility for a resign. That would be a smart move. Very underrated pitcher.
The thing with deGrom is that he really doesn’t need to throw 100 MPH every pitch, even on waste pitches. He can throw 96 to 97 until he gets to 2 strikes and can save 100 MPH games for the postseason or division rivals. I would prefer 162 innings and a 2.4 ERA over 115 innings and a 1.75 ERA (162 to qualify for an ERA title). However, doctors these days are super risk-averse to the piint where many kids who play in recreational baseball are allowed to play more. I know once, I was hit by a pitch, and my skin peeled off. As bad as it was, I played the next game and even joked about playing through that one “like a real man.” The coach wouldn’t let me, ofc, but MLB players are treated like babies.
I think the days of deGrom throwing 100 are over. As are his days of 95-97. If he comes out of this surgery and pitches again he’ll be topping out at 93. He can paint so he can win with diminished stuff. He’ll have to learn how. Some guys can like Verlander others don’t like Syndergaard.
Lol. Go get hit by 100 and see if you can move the next day.
Dude Papi PEDS and the hall of Fame?Pudge Rodriguez is in the hall. Bagwell,Piazza. All suspected users. Gaylord Perry a spitball pitcher is in the hall. Imo Bonds should be in the hall because before peds he had a hof resume. Same with Clemens. Arod I’m pretty sure cheated his whole career except maybe those first few seasons. Papi never tested positive or was really linked same with Piazza and Bagwell. He never embarrassed the game like Arod or Bonds did either. He was a credit to the game.
Max will only pitch in games one or two of this or any series for the Rangers. If elimination is on the line, he will declare himself ‘not right’ coming out of the bullpen before the game and be scratched.
Ortiz is one of the players who failed a test during the first year players were tested in 2003. It’s grotesque he was allowed in with that positive test. Either all are let in on their numbered regardless of PED use or none are. These special carve outs for certain individuals is why this society is so screwed up.