To The Max! Texas Rangers Ace Max Scherzer Looks Extra Sharp in Rehab Start

The Texas Rangers aren't going to rush their former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, but they must be encouraged by his latest rehab outing.

Jun 2, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) looks on from inside the dugout against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer made his first rehab start in more than a month on Sunday and it was a thing of beauty.

Scherzer held the Oklahoma City Dodgers scoreless on one hit over four innings Sunday afternoon for Triple-A Round Rock. It was his first rehab start since April 24.

Scherzer, 39, was forced to shelve his comeback for a few weeks after experiencing a nerve issue in his throwing arm. He missed spring training after a December surgery to repair a herniated disc.

Scherzer threw 45 pitches, including 33 strikes while striking out five on Sunday in Oklahoma City.

He retired the first eight batters before Chris Okey singled in the third inning. Okey, a catcher, is a former second-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 who has more than 1,500 minor-league at-bats but only 14 MLB ABs.

Scherzer will make more than one rehab start, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. The Rangers would prefer the three-time Cy Young winner to stretch his arm out enough to be ready to pitch his normal workload when he rejoins the rotation.

Nothing Mad about this one.@Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer piles up five strikeouts in four one-hit innings while on rehab for the @RRExpress. pic.twitter.com/kBHc9dtuwB

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 9, 2024

Scherzer allowed three runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings in his previous rehab start in April. He struck out four hitters.

He went a combined 13-6 with the Mets and Rangers last year, finishing with a 3.77 ERA. With the Rangers he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA.  

Here's a quick look at Max Scherzer's rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock. He tossed four shutout innings in OKC, allowing one hit and one walk. He struck out five batters. pic.twitter.com/O4VgKAt75H

— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) June 9, 2024

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

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