Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer’s recovery plans are put on hold by alarming injury twist.
Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer has yet to play a game this season, and he may have to wait much longer than expected. The eight-time All-Star has been recuperating from back surgery since December, but a new setback in his recovery will leave the Rangers’ pitching staff low for the foreseeable future.
According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, Scherzer may have a nerve issue that extends from his right thumb to his triceps.
“Scherzer, 39, had made quick, steady progress from December back surgery that allowed him to get to a rehab assignment on April 24,” Grant stated. “He threw 2.1 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers were initially confident that he may make one more start and return to the lineup during the current road trip. However, the thumb began to ache shortly after.
When will Texas finally put him back in the rotation? Will they be able to keep treading water without him till then?
The Rangers will probably have to be without their core pitchers for the foreseeable future
After injuring his thumb, Scherzer received a surprising prognosis from Dallas doctors, according to Manny Randhawa of MLB.com.
“I went back to Dallas to see the doctors,” Scherzer explained. “I’m putting all of my strength to the test. Now we’re thinking it’s a nerve problem. It’s the thumb, forearm, and triceps.
To make matters worse, Scherzer does not know when he will recover.
“This is completely foreign to me,” Scherzer explained. “I’ve never had nerve problems. I have never been a forearm man; I’ve always been a shoulder guy. So, as far as how to handle this, I’ll have to rely on our training team and doctors to determine the best course of action to alleviate the nerve [problem].”
While there is no definite schedule for Scherzer’s return, the Rangers should expect to be without him for the next three months. Nerve injuries are not easy to deal with, especially for an aging athlete nearing the end of his career.
This leaves a major gap in the Rangers’ rotation. Scherzer played an important role in their championship run last season after being traded by the New York Mets on July 30th. The three-time Cy Young Award winner had a 3.20 ERA in eight regular-season starts for the club before failing in the playoffs, with a 6.52 ERA in 9 2/3 innings. However, he pitched three scoreless innings in Game 3 of the World Series.
Texas’ injury list is considerable, particularly on the pitching side of things. Jacob DeGrom (Tommy John surgery), Tyler Mahle (Tommy John), Nathan Eovaldi (right groin strain), Dane Dunning (right rotator cuff strain), and Cody Bradford (lower back strain/rib stress fracture) are also sidelined. DeGrom and Mahle are anticipated back after the All-Star break.
Despite these injuries, the Rangers remain in first place in the AL West, with a 22-19 record. However, if the pitching staff does not recover soon, they will be unable to repeat last year’s October magic.
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