HOUSTON — Texas Rangers starters Max Scherzer and Jon Gray were included on the roster for the AL Championship Series against the Houston Astros starting Sunday night.
And, during a Monday press conference following his team's Game 1 win over the Astros in Houston, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy took things a step farther: He announced that Scherzer would be the team's Game 3 ALCS starter, taking the mound in the first home game the Rangers will play in the series.
A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer has been out since Sept. 12 because of a muscle strain in his shoulder.
Scherzer, who was traded from the Mets this summer, said he was “ready to go” after throwing a bullpen session and doing fielding drills Friday.
His fellow starter Gray will also return to the roster after last playing for the Rangers on Sept. 25. Gray had been dealing with tightness in his right wrist.
For the Astros, their only change from the Division Series was replacing outfielder Jake Meyers with right-handed reliever Ronel Blanco. Manager Dusty Baker announced Saturday that reliever Kendall Graveman would not be on the roster as he continues to deal with discomfort in his right shoulder.
To make room for Scherzer and Gray, the Rangers removed left-hander Brock Burke and right-hander Matt Bush from the roster.
Scherzer is 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 27 career postseason games with 22 starts. When he appears for Rangers, it will the fifth team he has pitched for in the postseason after previously playing for Detroit, Washington, the Dodgers and the Mets.
While with Washington, he started Games 1 and 7 of the 2019 World Series against the Astros. He got the win in Game 1 and didn’t factor in the decision in Game 7. He had a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings in that series.
He went 1-1 against Houston this season. He struck out eight and allowed one run in eight innings on June 19. But the Astros tagged him for seven runs, with three homers, in three innings on Sept. 6.
Gray went 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA in 29 starts this season.
Both teams have 13 position players and 13 pitchers on their rosters.