The Texas Rangers have been dealt a major blow heading into the American League Division Series (ALDS) as ace pitcher Max Scherzer has been left off the roster due to elbow soreness. The news was announced on Monday, with John Means taking Scherzer’s spot on the roster.
Scherzer, who is a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been dealing with elbow soreness since his last start on September 20th. He was originally expected to be ready for the ALDS, but the Rangers decided to err on the side of caution and leave him off the roster.
The Rangers are now without their best pitcher for the ALDS, which could be a huge disadvantage for them. Scherzer has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, posting a 2.45 ERA and striking out 84 batters in just 63 innings. He was also a key part of the Rangers’ rotation, providing stability and leadership.
John Means will now take Scherzer’s spot on the roster. Means is a left-handed pitcher who has had an impressive season, posting a 3.09 ERA and striking out 71 batters in 62 innings. He has also been a reliable starter for the Rangers, making nine starts this season and providing quality innings.
The Rangers will now have to rely on Means and their other pitchers to get them through the ALDS. It will be a difficult task without Scherzer, but they will have to find a way to make it work. It remains to be seen how the Rangers will fare without their ace, but they will have to hope that Means can step up and fill the void left by Scherzer.
