12/15/2023 12:48:16 PM EST
Texas Rangers ace Max Scherzer will be sidelined until at least June or July following surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.General manager Chris Young of the defending World Series champions delivered the news to reporters on Friday.Scherzer, who turns 40 in July, was 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in eight regular season starts for Texas after being acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline.He did not pitch in the wild-card or division series because of a shoulder strain and was 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in two starts in the American League Championship Series. He started Game 3 of the World Series and pitched three scoreless innings in a 3-1 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.The Rangers released a statement from Scherzer."After returning to my offseason home in Florida, my discomfort in my back continued to get worse. During this time, I received a diagnosis of a herniated disc. After several conservative treatments and consulting with multiple specialists, I made the decision to have the recommended surgery. Getting this procedure done now will give me the best chance to pitch as much as possible for the Rangers in 2024. I look forward to putting in the rehab work and getting back on the mound next summer."A three-time Cy Young Award winner and an eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is 214-108 with a 3.15 ERA and 3,367 strikeouts in 457 games (448 starts) for the Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets and Rangers.A midsummer comeback for Scherzer could set Texas up for a second-half pitching overhaul, with right-hander Jacob deGrom and newly signed right-hander Tyler Mahle both targeting August returns after recovering from Tommy John surgery.--Field Level Media