Scherzer makes rehab start, eyes return to Rangers

SEATTLE -- Max Scherzer could be on his way back to the Rangers’ clubhouse soon.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner made the second start of his current rehab stint Saturday with Triple-A Round Rock, going 4 2/3 innings and striking out eight in a 4-0 loss to the Tacoma Raniers (Mariners affiliate).

Scherzer threw 79 pitches, a shade over the target of 70-75 that Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he was aiming for prior to the game.

Now, the Rangers will wait to see how Scherzer feels coming out of the outing; Bochy said before Saturday’s 7-5 loss to the Mariners that if all went well, it would be his last rehab start.

Scherzer’s fastball topped out a 93.4 mph, and averaged 92.1 mph, down a tick from his last outing. He threw all five of his pitches, getting 10 whiffs.

Jonatan Clase -- Seattle’s No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline -- tagged Scherzer for a solo home run on the first pitch of the game. Scherzer allowed two more runs, and finished with four hits and two walks allowed.

Scherzer, who exited Game 3 of the 2023 World Series with back pain, underwent offseason surgery to repair a herniated disc. He made one rehab appearance on April 24, but suffered a setback due to thumb soreness and nerve inflammation before he could make a second.

After a month and a half, Scherzer returned to Round Rock on June 9 with a four-inning start.