Arlington, Texas – In a disappointing turn of events, three-time award-winning pitcher, Max Scherzer, was forced to miss his scheduled start on Saturday evening due to a left hamstring strain, ultimately ending his season.
Dane Dunning took the mound in place of Scherzer for the crucial middle game against the Seattle Mariners, who are vying for a wild card spot in the American League. To bolster their roster, the team recalled right-handed pitcher Gerson Garabito from Triple-A Round Rock.
According to manager Bruce Bochy, Scherzer reported that his hamstring was severely tight, making it impossible for him to take the field. This setback comes after Scherzer felt discomfort while running sprints the previous day, which failed to improve as he had hoped.
Scherzer, 40, has had a tumultuous season, making only one start since July 30. He was previously sidelined for 40 games due to right shoulder fatigue and an arm nerve issue. In his sole start, he struck out six, allowing one run and four hits over four innings.
“It’s been a challenging year for him,” Bochy sympathized. “He’s been working hard to get back on track, but we’ve had to navigate some setbacks with his arm. Now, unfortunately, it’s his hamstring.”
Scherzer is in the final year of his contract, which he opted into for this season at $43.3 million. The Rangers acquired him from the New York Mets in a trade last summer, with the Mets covering $30.83 million of his salary.
After undergoing back surgery in the offseason, Scherzer struggled with a nerve issue during his rehabilitation and didn’t make his season debut until June 23. His nine starts this season are the fewest he’s made since his rookie year with Arizona in 2008.
Throughout his illustrious career, Scherzer has racked up 3,407 strikeouts, placing him 11th on baseball’s all-time list and second among active pitchers behind Justin Verlander. His 216 career wins also rank second among active pitchers.
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