Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer was scheduled to make a rehab outing for Double-A Frisco tonight but that will no longer happen. Per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the veteran has been scratched from that start, with the club providing little information about his current status.
It’s been a challenging season for Scherzer, who has never really dealt with a significant injury before. Apart from his 2008 debut and the shortened 2020 season, he has never thrown less than 145 1/3 innings in a major league season. He logged at least 170 frames in each full season from 2009 to 2021.
But he is certainly going to fall short of that range this year. He has thrown 39 1/3 innings in the majors and he’s running out of time to add to that total. He underwent back surgery in the offseason and it was initially hoped that he could be back at some point in May, but that didn’t come to pass.
He began a rehab assignment in late April but that was halted after just one outing due to some soreness in his right thumb. Grant relayed on May 11 that Scherzer was dealing with a nerve issue running down his arm and had received a cortisone injection. Grant provided an update in a May 15 column, noting that Scherzer had received a Botox injection, a treatment for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome but also other nerve pain. In a May 28 column, Grant noted that neurogenic TOS normally features pain going from the shoulder to the finger but Scherzer’s case was the opposite, with pain going up his arm from his thumb. In another update on May 31, Grant again mentioned neurogenic TOS but noted that Scherzer has maintained the issue is not TOS.
Scherzer was eventually able to get healthy enough to get on the mound. He made two more rehab starts in June and was reinstated from the injured list that month. He made eight starts at the big league level, throwing the aforementioned 39 1/3 innings, allowing 3.89 earned runs per nine. But in the first week of August, he landed back on the IL due to some right shoulder fatigue. As mentioned, he was planned to start a rehab assignment tonight but that won’t happen now.
It’s undoubtedly a frustrating experience for Scherzer with the constant starting and stopping this year, but there’s little reason for the club to push him at this point if he’s not 100%. The club is 59-69 and 10.5 games back of the Astros in the West. Both the Playoff Odds at FanGraphs and the PECOTA Standings at Baseball Prospectus put their chances of cracking the postseason at less than a half of a percentage point.
With their season more or less on life support, the club and Scherzer can focus on his long-term health. As of last week, the 40-year-old said he was planning to pitch again in 2025. He won’t take the hill tonight and further developments will undoubtedly be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Scherzer is scheduled to hit free agency at season’s end and is health status will likely play a key role in how the winter plays out for him. Plenty of clubs would be interested in him based on his amazing track record but the mention of neurogenic TOS will undoubtedly raise some flags. Last summer, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post looked at the two different kinds of TOS and why the results are often so divergent. Merrill Kelly once had venous TOS but was able to recover and has pitch at a high level for years afterwards. Whereas neurogenic TOS is often more debilitating, with pitchers like Stephen Strasburg significantly hampered by the condition.
Again, Scherzer has insisted he is not dealing with neurogenic TOS, though he does have a nerve issue of some kind. Whatever is ailing him, it’s been a significant roadblock this year. He will undoubtedly be exploring all avenues with medical experts in the coming weeks to find a path forward towards his goal of pitching next year. As of today, he has a 3.16 ERA in almost 3,000 career innings pitched and is tenth on the all-time strikeout list.
It’s not like it matters for Texas. Too late.
Scherzer abd Verlander both need to retire. Both have had great careers. Retire on your own terms. Don’t ruin the memory by hanging around too long.
No, they don’t.
I demand they both retire because it would ruin my memories of them…on their own terms.
LOL
It’s all about me! All the time! Everything I want!
I think both have maxed out.
But their egos haven’t yet.
Pirate – reality check here. Neither started their career hoping to make memories for fans and neither is likely to be thinking about fan memories at the twilight of their careers.
I do get your fan oriented sentiment and yes, plenty of “should have retired” examples but these players are rea people making real people decisions for them and their families.
When you wan away from the game, mentality be ready to be happy. If not, keep giving it a go until they won’t let you. I submit that both of these guys are doing just that. The money is great and some stats are great. They are doing it because they aren’t mentality prepared for saying “I used to be an mlb ball player” yet.
But the gop would probably be happy to run either in say, CA or GA or SD? Even if they had zero credentials or credibility.
Enter the fork.
Believe he’s chasing stats. Could be wrong.
If that were true, what would be wrong with that?
He definitely could be chasing a higher ranking in career strikeouts. Other than that, it isn’t like he’s going to win 300 games or even 250. And he has 12 career complete games. Nothing to accomplish there.
Is Gary Bell the name of when Gary Carter and George Bell spoke in unison?
Ahhh the young uns.. Gary Bell pitched for Boston, Cleveland, Seattle during the 60’s. Was what was known as a character and a guy would have liked to have seen later on when many ex Sox pitchers came to winter haven as guest coaches during ST, but can’t remember Bell ever coming down.
many did, Jose Santiago, Joe Dobson, Dave morehead, Bill Monboquette.. probably chance for paid vacation in the sun than anything else.
Ah the old grumpy orange dudes who can’t use a keyboard very well
Kidding, old John. Just went with a portmanteau-esque name from more notable stars.
I remember Gary Bell more from “Ball Four” then anything. I think he was Bouton’s roommate. Great quote and totally true.
Tell us how aj hinch ruined hitters again. Dummy
RETIRE!
Yet he and his agent will expect some team to pay him $40 million to pitch next year. Angels anyone?
No, they won’t expect that. Stop lying
He’ll command the contract Burnes will get next year except on a 1 year deal
1. He is still getting paid a lot of money.
2. He is still an above-average player.
3. Competitive drive
4. Stats
5. Fun
I’d wonder about the decision making ability of someone who walks away from 7+ million dollars to retire one month early
He’s just chasing stats if he wants to continue playing another year or 2
I can’t say with any honesty that I would gracefully retire instead of hanging around too long after I’m no longer effective like Steve Carlton did. I expect at least one of them to take a MiLB invite with Cleveland or KC or another fringe contender with enough incentives that they’d make $30 million if they won another CYA. Respect.
Also, Scherzer is 10th All-Time in career Ks. #11 on the list, and only 6 behind, is Justin Verlander. Who are any of us to stop their end-of-career competition?
Nope. You would retire early because you don’t want to ruin your legacy for the Internet baseball dorks
It’s been a good run, Grandpa.
In respect of Max’s news, I’m getting some scratch-off cards at the Lotto kiosk today.
He must have an itch.
I know he wants to pitch next season. Not sure if is under contract still for Rangers.
Verlander is up there age wise too. I think is older than Scherzer. But think he wants to pitch next season too.
I know Verlander was behind him in terms of Ks. But now Verlander back May go ahead. Scherzer does not have to be rushed back. Be a miracle if Rangers make a threat.
Baker Act.
Unless one feels they can’t play why retire.
Young man at 40..feels can still be competitive .. gets paid well.
What’s the rush?
Plenty of time to morph into the pressures of the real world.
At 65 I see it differently.
At 30 I’d be saying “ retire already”.
Experience of life tells me if u can play , play as long as you can.
No ones telling Mick Jagger , Robert Plant , Willie Nelson et al to retire at 75 plus.
If u can still do it and have fun , do it.
I saw Phil Collins on his last go- round. That man needs to retire; he physically cannot continue that job. I understand he fell into depression the first time he left. Sometimes, The Grind is all someone has.
Saw an article the other day, seems Phil is doing much better at the moment.
Max will forever have my appreciation and respect. I’m glad he’s trying to go out on his own terms, but I do worry about him ending up where Strasburg did, barely able to use his right arm. Hopefully he’ll know when to walk away before that happens.
Hit me with it Mickey
He’s going to sign with a team like the Orioles in the offseason. Chase one more ring.
Time for him and Verlander to consider retirement and becoming coaches. They can pitch but it doesn’t matter if you can’t come back from injury.
Deny all he wants Scherzer days in the majors are extremely limited. Those TOS injuries never go away completely. Scherzer ought to consider hanging it up. Playing out the string with a hapless ballclub like the Rangers is a futile cause.