Max Scherzer made his 2024 season debut for the Texas Rangers on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals after being activated from the injured list. The 17-year veteran had been recovering from offseason surgery for a herniated disc and had not pitched yet this year.
Manager Bruce Bochy expressed confidence in Scherzer’s return, noting that he felt good leading up to the game. In his first start of the season, Scherzer allowed only one hit over five innings with four strikeouts. The lone hit came in the fifth inning when MJ Melendez managed a double off the pitcher.
Bochy stated that there would be no pitch count for Scherzer in his season debut, and that they would monitor his performance and how he felt throughout the game. Right-hander Yerry Rodriguez was sent down to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for Scherzer on the roster.
Scherzer faced a setback during a minor league rehab assignment in April due to right thumb soreness that was diagnosed as a nerve issue extending to his forearm and triceps. His return comes as a boost to the Rangers’ starting rotation, which has faced several injuries this season with pitchers like Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning, and Cory Bradford dealing with injuries or recovery from surgery. Both Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle are also working on return plans after Tommy John surgery.