Three-time Cy Young Award winner and current strikeout leader Max Scherzer, who has only pitched once for the Texas Rangers since turning 40 last month, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday.
He said that despite his injuries this season, he still feels he can pitch effectively and hasn’t had second thoughts about continuing his career.
“I’ve been able to go out there and compete, but I haven’t been fully myself,” Scherzer said after the session, his first since going on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago due to shoulder fatigue.
“Even when I’m competing, I believe I can pitch at a high level. I still have the ability to perform well on the mound.”
Scherzer (2-4, 3.89 ERA) plans to throw a longer bullpen session on Sunday. Based on how he feels, he and the Rangers will decide if he needs more practice or if he’s ready to return to pitching in games.
“He had a good day down there,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “He used all his pitches and was really letting it go. It was a good session for him.”
Scherzer has made only eight starts since his season debut on June 23 after recovering from back surgery and dealing with a nerve issue in his arm.
In his last home start on July 25, just before his 40th birthday, Scherzer gave up one run and struck out nine in six innings against the Chicago White Sox. He moved past Justin Verlander to 10th on the all-time strikeout list and is the top active pitcher with 3,405 strikeouts.
On July 30, he allowed three runs in four innings at St. Louis and left after 68 pitches. He was placed on the injured list on August 2, retroactive to the day after his last start.
With 456 games started and 2,874 innings pitched over 17 seasons, Scherzer is second only to Verlander among active pitchers. He noted that his challenge this year was trying to return to form in the middle of the season.
