Max Scherzer is making his first rehabilitation start since the shutdown in April on a winding road to recovery

ARLINGTON – Another Texas Rangers starting pitcher is working his way back to the big leagues.

In his first rehab start since his most recent shutdown, Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer threw four scoreless innings for Triple-A Round Rock against Oklahoma City on Sunday. The 39-year-old threw 53 pitches (37 for strikes), allowed one hit, walked one and struckout five batters.

Scherzer’s sinker – which he threw 22 times – averaged 93 miles per hour and maxed out at 90.8 miles per hour. He retired the first eight Oklahoma City batters he faced before Chris Okey reached on a two-out single in the bottom of the third inning.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner faced a cumbersome return to competitive pitching after offseason back surgery in December. Scherzer progressed ahead of schedule and made a rehab start for Round Rock on April 24 before thumb pain – which developed into a nerve problem running down his right arm – ruled him out of a second minor league start. He received Botox injections in mid-May to ease nerve pain and faced hitters in a live bullpen session at Globe Life Field for the first time since his shutdown on Tuesday.

The Rangers would likely try to build him up to around 75 pitches before reevaluating him.

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