The Texas Rangers' start to the season has not been ideal, even though they are at the top of the American League West.
They are currently 12-11 and 5-5 in their last ten as of this writing.
But things could get better for them soon, as reinforcement is on the way after the club confirmed that Max Scherzer is taking a closer step toward returning to the majors.
The 39-year-old pitcher will start for the Round Rock at home against Salt Lake.
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The minor league appearance comes at the heels of his 40-pitch simulation last Friday. He is expected to throw about 50 pitches for the Round Rock game.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner has been out since the end of the last season when they won the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He underwent an MRI shortly after the championship and discovered some inflammation on his back. He was slowed down, too, by nerve pains in his leg, which he subjected to two epidural injections.
Scherzer went under the knife on December 15 to repair a herniated disk in his lower back.
Max Scherzer's injury is dealt with utmost care
Fans excitedly want Scherzer back due to the team's slow start, but the Rangers are being careful with the 39-year-old's recovery.
The right-hand pitcher insisted that they are not looking at any timeline and that he is not about getting ahead of schedule.
"I want to remove all that 'ahead of schedule,' 'early,' - all of that lingo," he said in an interview with Dallas Morning News last week.
"No, I have not been experiencing the symptoms that most people experience, outside of the surgery. I have felt normal. I turned the corner here a couple of weeks ago. Everything I'm doing, in terms of throwing, I'm recovering from it normally. My body feels good. So I'm just ramping up like normal right now. This is not me pushing anything. I'm not trying to cut a single corner."
Scherzer is no stranger to injuries. His last one before this was in September last year when he was sidelined for the rest of the regular season after being traded by the New York Mets to the Rangers in the middle of the season.
The Rangers acquired him in exchange for shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuna.
He made eight starts for the team and posted a 4-2 record. He finished with a 3.20 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 45.0 innings of work.
Max Scherzer's return timetable
Scherzer was put on the 60-day injured list by the Rangers at the start of the season.
This means he could only come back by the end of May.
He will need three more rehab activities starting on Wednesday.
His return will be a huge boost for the Rangers, who already lack Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle, as both are recovering from Tommy John Surgery.
The two pitchers are expected to return by the season's second half.
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