The Texas Rangers haven’t appeared in the American League Championship Series since 2011 and are set to face the defending champions, the Houston Astros.
Acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, veteran Max Scherzer is preparing as if he was going to face the Astros in this all-Texas series, despite the fact that the right-hander is not at 100%. of his abilities.
Following his team’s victory over the Baltimore Orioles, the holder of 214 career victories, launched a simulated game to find out the condition of his arm and he mentioned afterwards that the test was conclusive.
The question now is whether Rangers manager Bruce Bochy will use his services to take on Dusty Baker’s well-oiled machine? Is that enough for Bochy to add him to the rotation?
Another starter on the sidelines for some time, Jon Gray, also says he is ready to return to the mound to lend a hand to the rotation in place, having been placed on the injured list at the conclusion of the regular season .
So far, the trio of Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery and Dane Dunning has allowed the Rangers to fly past the Rays and Orioles. Moreover, Montgomery should start the first game of the series against veteran Justin Verlander.
Given that the championship series is a 4 of 7, Bochy will have to improve his rotation and add an extra arm. Who, Gray or Scherzer, will be the one to start a match at the moment deemed appropriate by manager Bochy?
Many questions to which only the Rangers manager knows the answers.
One thing is certain, no one would have predicted at the start of the season that Justin Verlander and perhaps Max Scherzer would take an active part in the American League Championship Series considering the fact that the two veterans started the season with the Mets of New York.
In the playoffs, experience makes a difference and the two managers know it very well. Not for nothing are the Astros the favorites to win another World Series.
At a minimum, the presence of Scherzer in relief would represent a good dose of motivation for his teammates. Remember that he helped the Nationals become champions in 2019.
Pay attention, because the answers will come quickly.
