PHOENIX — Rangers stars Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer are no longer on the team's World Series rosters.
Both players suffered injuries in Game 3 of the World Series.
Scherzer left the game in the third inning with back spasms.
Garcia left the game in the eight inning after experiencing what the Rangers called side tightness at the time. While at bat, he flew out to right field and immediately showed discomfort after swinging at a 1-0 fastball. Garcia then left the ballpark to go get tests done on the injury.
After evaluating both players throughout the day on Tuesday, GM Chris Young announced about an hour before first pitch in Game 4 that neither player was capable of returning to action, and that they'd been replaced on the roster for the rest of the 2023 World Series.
Garcia will be replaced on the roster by utility player Ezequiel Duran. Duran, 24, hit .276 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs in 122 appearances in the 2023 regular season.
Scherzer will be replaced by 26-year-old relief pitcher Brock Burke. Burke, 27, went 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA across 53 regular season appearances for the Rangers in 2023.
Rangers GM Chris Young is providing an update on the team's roster moves ahead of Game 4:
So far this postseason, Garcia has been the Rangers' star, driving in a Major League Baseball postseason record 22 runs on eight homers, including a walk-off homer in Game 1 of the World Series. He also delivered massive homers in Games 5 and 6 of the American League Championship Series, and he was named ALCS MVP.
But Garcia was not included in the starting lineup promoted by the Rangers in advance of Game 4 on Tuesday night:
"He’s not playing tonight," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said in a press conference before Game 4 when asked about Garcia's status and availability. "He did try to take some swings. He’s been given treatment. He does have a moderate sprain on his oblique, and that’s never a good thing."
Starting in Garcia's place in right field will be outfielder Travis Jankowski.
Jankowski, 32, joined the Rangers on a minor league contract in the offseason. A major leaguer since 2015, Jankowski saw the most action of his career this season appearing in 107 games for the team while posting a .263 batting average, 30 RBIs and a team-leading 19 stolen bases.
In his Tuesday afternoon press conference, Bochy said he tapped Jankowski to start in Garcia's place in Game 4 because "he's such a good defender."
Garcia, 30, hit 39 homers and drove in 107 runs while posting a .245 batting average during the regular season. He also earned his second All-Star selection this season.
"It’s unfortunate," Bochy said. "We have to be honest. It’s not great news."
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