TODAY: Scherzer started his rehab task right now, tossing 53 pitches over 4 scoreless innings for Triple-A Spherical Rock. As famous by Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning Information, Scherzer’s sinker was averaging 93mph, and he threw the pitch 22 occasions amongst his 53 general choices whereas permitting just one hit and one stroll within the five-strikeout outing. The Rangers plan to construct Scherzer as much as a 75-pitch rely earlier than evaluating whether or not or not he may be able to return to the majors.
JUNE 8: The Rangers activated right-hander Jon Grey from the 10-day injured listing this afternoon, simply over two weeks after he was initially shelved as a consequence of a groin pressure. That fast turnaround has left Grey not totally stretched out to start out, and Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning Information wrote this afternoon that the right-hander could be eased again into his position with the membership in a reduction position earlier than later rejoining the beginning combine. In line with Grant, the choice to first use Grey in reduction earlier than including him again to the rotation combine his subsequent time up allowed the Rangers to skip a minor league rehab stint for the 32-year-old hurler.
That plan got here to move this night, as Grey pitched 2 1/3 scoreless frames in reduction of Andrew Heaney throughout this night’s loss to the Giants. Whatever the position he’s pitching in, Grey’s return figures to offer an enormous increase to the Rangers pitching workers. In any case, the righty boasted a 2.21 ERA and a couple of.52 FIP in 57 frames on the time of his placement on the IL with a strong 23.7% strikeout price and a 44.4% groundball price that represents his finest work since becoming a member of the Rangers previous to the 2021 season. With starters Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Cody Bradford, and Tyler Mahle all at present within the midst of prolonged absences, Grey’s speedy return from the shelf figures to be key for the Rangers as they appear to get themselves again into the hunt for the postseason. The membership has scuffled in current weeks and at present sports activities a 30-34 document that places them 5 video games again of the Mariners for the AL West crown and three video games out of the ultimate AL Wild Card spot.
Fortuitously, Grey isn’t the one key participant who may return from damage within the close to future. Grant additionally relays that third baseman Josh Jung, who has been shelved for almost all of the season as a consequence of a damaged wrist, has begun taken stay batting follow and might be slated for a rehab task as quickly as this coming Tuesday. Grant provides that Rangers brass are anticipated to set a schedule for Jung tomorrow that would agency up these plans.
Jung made it into simply 4 video games with the Rangers earlier than he was sidelined this yr, however he was hitting a scorching .412/.474/.941 in that microscopic pattern measurement earlier than the damage put him out of motion. Because the begin of Jung’s 2023 marketing campaign, he’s been a effectively above common offensive contributor for Texas at third base with a .271/.320/.483 slash line, 26 doubles, and 25 dwelling runs in 534 journeys to the plate throughout simply 126 video games. Josh Smith has carried out effectively on the scorching nook in Jung’s absence, though the 26-year-old’s return from the injured listing would nonetheless enhance the membership’s offense by permitting the crew to push Ezequiel Duran and his 92 wRC+ right into a bench position.
Turning again to the pitching workers, veteran ace Max Scherzer additionally made progress in his rehab earlier this week, as MLB.com’s Harm Tracker notes that he threw 40-50 pitches throughout two innings of stay batting follow earlier this week, with Scherzer himself telling reporters that he hopes to start out a minor league rehab task quickly. It’s been a rocky street to restoration for Scherzer this season as he entered the 2024 marketing campaign projected to return from offseason again surgical procedure across the All Star break earlier than seemingly progressing forward of schedule. That left him and the Rangers eyeing someday in Might for his return, though a nerve challenge in Scherzer’s thumb finally required a cortisone shot and triggered the membership to close the veteran righty down.
Now that Scherzer is throwing to hitters as soon as once more, he seems to be on an identical observe to the one he was projected for on the time of his surgical procedure, with a return later this month or in early July now a seemingly lifelike goal as long as he avoids extra setbacks. After being swapped from the Mets to the Rangers in alternate for Luisangel Acuna final summer time, the longer term Corridor of Famer pitched to a 3.20 ERA and three.41 FIP in eight begins for the membership down the stretch with a wonderful 29.9% strikeout price however handled accidents that restricted each his availability and his effectiveness through the membership’s postseason run that culminated within the first World Sequence championship in franchise historical past. Trying forward, his return to motion ought to additional bolster the pitching workers in Texas whereas permitting the Rangers to shift the likes of Heaney and Jose Urena into reduction after early season rotation accidents compelled them into beginning roles.
