Rangers' Max Scherzer Not Considering Retirement After 2024 MLB Season amid Injuries

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer has been limited to eight starts this year after missing the first three months due to offseason back surgery and a nerve issue and landing on the injured list Aug. 2 due to right shoulder fatigue.

It's been a tough stretch for the 40-year-old, who has won three Cy Young awards and made eight All-Star teams during his phenomenal career. But Scherzer isn't thinking about retirement.

"No, not in that regard, because I've been able to go out there and compete, but I haven't been fully myself," Scherzer told reporters, per Stefan Stevenson for Sports Illustrated.

"Even when I've been out there competing, I still feel I can pitch at a high level. There are still things I can do with the baseball that I can pitch at a high level with."

Scherzer pitched a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday. Per Stevenson, the expectation is for Scherzer to throw a 40-pitch bullpen session Sunday. He's eligible to come off the injured list when he's ready.

"My shoulder, my arm for the most part, feels really good," Scherzer said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I was trying basically to do spring training in the middle of the season. Never done that before. ... I guess I was kind of flying blind and trying to understand what I can and can't do. And, you know, my arm got a little overextended in that process. And so like, OK, learn from it and move on, and build back up and let's get ready to go."

Injuries have hindered Scherzer over the past three years. As the AP noted, he made just 23 starts in 2022 with a left oblique injury and 27 starts in 2023 due to neck spasms and a right teres muscle strain.

But when healthy, Scherzer has been one of the game's best pitchers over the past-decade plus. For his career, he's 216-112 with a 3.16 ERA (1.08 WHIP) and 10.6 K/9 rate. He's posted a respectable stat line in 2024, going 2-4 with a 3.89 ERA (1.09 WHIP) and 8.7 K/9 rate.

Hopefully Scherzer is able to return and enjoy a good string of health before the season ends. At this point, there's certainly optimism he'll be able to return after the Friday bullpen's success, so the next step is hoping Sunday turns out well and going from there.