The game between the Texas Rangers and the Blue Jays took an unexpected turn when right-hander Max Scherzer left the field due to a right triceps spasm. In the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s match, Scherzer experienced discomfort while delivering his first pitch to Bo Bichette. Concerned, Manager Bruce Bochy and the trainer rushed to the mound to assess the situation. Frustrated, Scherzer had no choice but to leave the game prematurely. Right-hander José Leclerc took his place on the field, replacing Scherzer in an unexpected turn of events.
A Winless Streak Halted
Despite the unfortunate injury, Scherzer had a strong performance prior to his departure. With a scoreless streak, he snapped a four-start winless streak, giving the Rangers a fighting chance. Scherzer threw a total of 73 pitches, with an impressive 49 of them counted as strikes. Reflecting on the game, Scherzer expressed how important it was for the team to secure a victory, stating, “We needed a good team win and we got it.”
Scherzer provided insight into the unexpected triceps spasms that forced him to leave the game. He revealed that he first noticed tightness while warming up for the sixth inning. Initially hoping the discomfort would dissipate, Scherzer continued to push forward. However, when he threw his first curveball to Bichette, it felt like a “charley horse” to him. Attempts to deliver warm-up pitches only confirmed his suspicions – the muscle did not release as it should have. Frustratingly, Scherzer had no choice but to acknowledge that he couldn’t throw another baseball.
Prioritizing Caution
Manager Bruce Bochy, in conversation with Scherzer and the trainer on the mound, opted for a cautious approach. He determined that it was not worth jeopardizing Scherzer’s long-term health and future performances by pushing him to continue pitching. “We did not want him to pitch through it,” Bochy stated resolutely. Despite the promising performance Scherzer had displayed, the team was unwilling to take any chances with their star pitcher’s well-being. Bochy lamented the situation, expressing regret at being forced to withdraw Scherzer from the game when he had such great stuff.
Scherzer’s prior outing had been less than ideal, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. In his last game against Houston, he conceded a season-high of seven earned runs, leading to a loss. This made his initial strong performance against the Blue Jays all the more crucial before the triceps spasm struck.
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