'I can overcome this': Scherzer believes he's figured out nerve issue

ARLINGTON -- Max Scherzer would pitch today if the Rangers would let him.

After being scratched from his most recent rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Aug. 23, Scherzer has been in a sort of holding pattern as he and the Rangers training staff worked through his recent arm fatigue issues that have kept him on the injured list since Aug. 2.

What should have been a break for one turn through the rotation turned into yet another month on the shelf and multiple visits to team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Scherzer couldn’t even play catch, but he was adamant throughout the whole process that he didn’t have a significant injury.

“We had another MRI, but they said, ‘Hey, you're clean, everything looks good,’” he explained. “From a strength standpoint, I passed every strength test, and yet I still couldn't throw a ball. I couldn't get into my normal throwing program.

“Everybody was kind of confused again. Based on all my symptoms and what I was feeling, it was nerves again in the tricep area. I went to see more doctors and had nerve tests done. The nerve is fine. I don't have nerve damage. There was something definitely irritating this nerve in my tricep.”

But Scherzer now believes he’s figured it out.

The nerve issue in his triceps has been connected to his mechanics. The soreness and irritation was only occurring when he was throwing the ball, and not when doing any other activity. Scherzer slightly adjusted his throwing motion, hoping to fix the issue.

He threw a light bullpen with those mechanical adjustments on Aug. 30 ahead of the Rangers’ matchup with the A’s at Globe Life Field. He said he felt great and should hopefully be out of rehab in the next week or so.

“There was something mechanically going on with my elbow and elbow retraction that was making that radial nerve of my tricep get irritated,” he said. “Yesterday, I got on the mound to do a full bullpen and no issue. So finally, I feel like I've figured something out on this. Finally, I feel like I can overcome this, because there's nothing wrong with it. Structurally, I'm fine. Strength, I'm fine. I don't have an injury here. This was just a nerve irritation. I feel like I potentially have solved this.”

It’s been a long and trying season for Scherzer, who the Rangers acquired in a 2023 Trade Deadline deal with the Mets.

Scherzer opened the 2024 season on the IL as he recovered from offseason back surgery. Initially, he was set for an early return in mid-May before he was shut down due to a nerve issue shortly after making one rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock in April.

Scherzer was activated on June 23 and threw a total of 39 1/3 innings in eight starts. His longest outing was 6 2/3 innings against the Angels on July 9, but he had a number of shortened starts due to various arm fatigue issues.

Immediately after his last start in St. Louis on July 30, when he went just four innings, Scherzer said he did not expect to need a stint on the injured list, but the Rangers determined on Aug. 2 that it would be necessary due to right shoulder fatigue.

Scherzer has been working back since then, and seemingly built up strength, before this recent scratch. He is confident now that he’s rectified the issue.

“I definitely want to get back out there and pitch and show that I'm healthy,” Scherzer said. “I'm not injured. I get this nerve issue raises some red flags. I get it. But this wasn't something structurally wrong with my elbow or shoulder. For whatever reason, I was in a bad mechanic [state] and if that is what alleviates the nerve, then it's been a painful learning lesson. You'd rather be pitching healthy than not.”

Scherzer also once again reiterated his desire to pitch next season. He’s been consistent all year long that he will continue to pitch as long as his body allows him, because his heart is still in it.

“I gotta go out there and prove it,” Scherzer said. “As much as I think this is [the issue], and I'm convicted that this is it, I also got to prove it. If I do, yeah, I definitely want to pitch next year. I've said that coming in, you know? I want to. I came into this year thinking I was going to pitch next year. Nothing's changed. Obviously, if I fail at this, we’ve got to rethink, but I don't think I’ll have to rethink it. I think I got to go out there and execute this.”