Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, made a triumphant return to the mound in his season debut, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Scherzer retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced, pitching five scoreless innings and striking out four. He showed no signs of rust, despite undergoing back surgery in December and dealing with a nerve issue during his rehab. The Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Royals, with rookie Wyatt Langford extending his RBI streak to five games.
José Ureña pitched the final four innings, earning his first save and extending the Rangers’ consecutive scoreless innings pitched streak to 22. The team’s seventh shutout of the season marked their longest scoreless streak since 2016.
Scherzer’s performance was dominant, with his only blemish being a ground-rule double by MJ Melendez in the fifth. He threw 57 pitches, 39 for strikes, and showed his signature competitiveness. Scherzer’s fourth strikeout of the game marked the 3,371st of his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Greg Maddux for 11th on MLB’s career list.
The Rangers’ win marked their fourth in a row, matching their season high. The Royals, on the other hand, ended a disappointing 2-7 road trip, but remain 20 games ahead of their pace from last season.
Scherzer’s impressive outing was a testament to his enduring talent and dedication, and the Rangers’ sweep was a statement win for the reigning World Series champions. With Scherzer back in form, the Rangers look poised to make another deep postseason run.