The Texas Rangers didn’t need Max Scherzer to be a hero in their comeback against the Royals. he did it anyway

ARLINGTON – Max Scherzer never listens.

Before Scherzer took the mound for his 2024 debut, after a longer-than-expected and often frustrating bout with a nerve issue, Rangers brass specifically told the apex contender not to go out and be a hero. Ignore the ESPN and MLB Network crawls that said the “three-time Cy Young Award winner” was about to take the mound. They didn’t need that version of Mad Max. Just a few innings and one chance.

Yes. Yes. got it. Have you heard, Maharaj?

Then he packed his portable cooler filled with bottled water, took to the mound and retired the first 13 batters of a 4-0 Rangers victory over Kansas City on Sunday, having all the makings of a really hot baseball team. Were. It gave the Rangers their first sweep of the season, extended the winning streak to four games to tie the longest of the year, and extended the current pitcher’s scoreless streak to a season-high 22 innings.

Scherzer tied Greg Maddux on the all-time strikeouts list (3,371). José Ureña pitched the team’s first four saves in 19 years. The duo combined to throw 99 pitches, the fewest in a Rangers nine-inning win in a decade. There was a lot to do in 2:05, making it the shortest, but perhaps sweetest, game of the season. And we didn’t even get to another RBI from Wyatt Langford or another homer from Josh Smith. They were part of it. Scherzer was the main character.

Manager Bruce Bochy later said, “Good to see him out there.” “We didn’t know exactly where he was (coming off the injured list). It makes you appreciate how good that guy is. That was Competitive Max at his best. This is a testament to how competitive he is. It has been a long journey back for him.”

At times, this has been frustrating for Scherzer. After joining Rangers in July, he missed the last month of the 2023 season due to a teres major muscle injury. He bounced back during the playoffs, but ultimately a disc problem forced him out of the World Series debut and required an offseason surgical fix. As he appeared to be making rapid progress from there, pain and tingling started from his right wrist which spread up his arm. Eventually, it was diagnosed as a nerve problem. This also cost him about six weeks of additional time to recover.

At times, it has been frustrating for Rangers too, with all the stops and starts in the recovery. Even this week when it appeared he had overcome all the obstacles, his comeback was pushed back a day after Scherzer experienced some loss of grip strength. Just then the Rangers spoke to them and told them they did not need a vintage Scherzer, only a serviceable one. He is going to turn 40 in a month. And there must be some room for that, but it was also important to bring back Scherzer and be able to solidify the middle of the bullpen by sliding Dan Dunning in there. Scherzer publicly acknowledged Saturday that, yes, the nerve issue had forced him to be introspective about his baseball mortality.

But when given a chance to compete, Scherzer pitched like his own, even without the old fastball. The average speed of his fastball on Sunday was only 92.8 mph, nearly a mile less than last year. But he threw 39 of 57 pitches (68.4%) for strikes and got his work done where he wanted.

“Once I got some rhythm and was able to get into the flow of the game, I started doing better with all my offspeed stuff,” Scherzer said. “I was working through the rust. My fastball spot was also taken up. When I can do that, I can navigate the lineup.

Now the only question is whether they can do it again in five days. That’s partly why the Rangers pulled him after five shutout innings and 57 pitches. And that’s partly why Scherzer didn’t argue, although after the fifth he did have a special animated conversation with Bochy and pitching coach Mike Maddux. With no off days on the Rangers’ schedule, Scherzer’s next start will be Friday at Baltimore.

“From a baseball standpoint, everything was telling me to go back there,” Scherzer said. “I’m throwing the ball well. Everything says keep going. But you don’t know how you will recover from thumb problem. It’s still there. I feel a little tired.

“I still don’t know how I’ll get through this. That’s been the issue here. We felt we got enough work and I thought we were in good shape. That was my kind of line. That’s really all we could go today. Hopefully, my arm will respond; Doesn’t go backwards. Then we can continue to move forward and continue to move forward. But yes, it is still an issue. I’m very conscious of my arm and where I am, what I can and can’t do.”

The Rangers no longer need him to go out there and become a three-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher. Five, crisp innings will do just fine.

“The first time it was perfect,” Bochy said.

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