ARLINGTON, Texas — Max Scherzer left the game after two innings due to arm fatigue in his first start for the Texas Rangers back from the All-Star break.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed four runs while allowing eight of Baltimore’s 14 batters to reach base in the Rangers’ 8-4 loss Saturday night.
It was just his sixth start since offseason back surgery and came one week before his 40th birthday.
“Once I was out there, (the fatigue) affected my performance and it affected my position. … I knew I had to take myself out of the game or I would risk further injury,” Scherzer said. “But fortunately, I didn’t feel any strain, I didn’t hurt anything.”
Scherzer (1-3) pitched four innings in a shortened scheduled appearance last Sunday.
He then threw a bullpen session at home in Florida on Wednesday during a break and felt he could be fit enough to start, but he was concerned about the number of pitches and how far he could go if an issue arose.
With the Rangers down 4-0, Jose Ureña took over for Scherzer in the top of the third inning.
Scherzer threw 34 of his 53 pitches for strikes, allowing five hits and two walks.
He struck out one batter, moving into a tie for 10th place on baseball’s all-time strikeout list, but made a throwing error after catching a bunted single.
“That’s a lot to throw in two innings. I didn’t want to throw any more. … Enough is enough,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We need to keep him healthy and in good spirits.”
Scherzer’s velocity has dropped slightly, with his 20 fastballs averaging 91.3 mph, below his season average of 92.7 mph, and the velocity of his 11 sliders and 11 changeups have also dropped.
It was Scherzer’s shortest appearance since June 11, 2021. At the time, Scherzer had thrown just 12 pitches for Washington, suffering from groin soreness while facing the second batter in a game against San Francisco.
He stretched out, threw one warm-up pitch and then left the game.
After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in December, Scherzer experienced pain in his right thumb during rehabilitation and was diagnosed with a nerve problem.
Scherzer has pitched 29 1/3 innings in six starts this season, striking out 24 and walking six with a 3.99 ERA.
He had pitched seven innings in consecutive starts before giving up just one run and going just four innings against Houston before the break.
Neither Scherzer nor Bochy seemed too concerned about the short game against Baltimore.
“It’s just part of my preparation to get back into mid-season shape as quickly as possible, and my arm’s just a little tired,” Scherzer said.
“We always check in with them to see how they’re doing the next day and how they got through it,” Bouch said, “but I think he’ll be OK.”
