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Rangers’ Bruce Bochy on Max Scherzer: Latest 60-pitch sim-game was ‘really encouraging’

The righthander continues to verge on a return, but the club didn’t fully commit to a Scherzer ALCS appearance.

ARLINGTON – Well, put it this way: Bruce Bochy didn’t absolutely commit Thursday to Max Scherzer starting a game for the Rangers in the AL Championship Series. But he couldn’t have come much closer.

A day after Scherzer threw 60 pitches over four innings of a simulated game, Bochy said the Rangers were “really encouraged,” about the possibilities. Bochy also indicated that the Rangers would lean towards using Scherzer, who has been dealing with a strained teres major muscle behind his shoulder, as a starter rather than out of the bullpen. Scherzer has not pitched in a game since September 12.

The Rangers were still waiting for final word on how Scherzer recovered after the game simulation. They do not have to finalize their roster until Sunday. The Rangers can’t afford to err on the side of aggressiveness with Scherzer because if he is placed on the roster and then must be taken off due to injury, he’d be ineligible should the team make the World Series.

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“Max is doing well,” Bochy said. “He had a nice outing yesterday. We have some time here before we set this roster, but we have to be really encouraged with how he threw the ball.

“I think you have to go with what you see too much as what he’s telling you, but we watched him, and it was good. As I said, really, really encouraging. He threw enough to where the stamina and strength showed up. We just want to make sure.”

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While the Rangers waited for Scherzer, they also withheld naming a starter for Sunday’s Game 1 in Houston. They have multiple options. If the Rangers simply keep everybody on turn, they could use either Andrew Heaney or Dane Dunning, who combined in Game 1 of the ALDS. If they want to return to the top of the rotation, Jordan Montgomery, who served as the No. 1 starter after Scherzer’s injury, would have six days rest. Or they could even use Nathan Eovaldi, who started the Division Series clincher on Tuesday; he would be on regular four days’ of rest.

Scherzer, who did not address the media on Thursday, had said after the Rangers completed their sweep of Baltimore in the Division Series that he felt optimistic about his chances of being ready for the ALCS.

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Bochy also left open the possibility that Jon Gray, who was placed on the IL during the final weekend of the season, could be activated for the ALCS, though it would likely be in a relief role. Gray had not yet thrown to hitters, as Scherzer had.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant

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