Texas Rangers sign Max Scherzer as starter for Sunday’s series finale against the Houston Astros

HOUSTON – A future Hall of Famer will finish the first half of the season for the Texas Rangers.

Right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer will start for the Rangers against the Houston Astros on Sunday at Minute Maid Park, manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday. Sunday’s final game of the series is the Rangers’ last game before the All-Star break, and in theory, right-hander Jon Gray would have been in line to start.

Scherzer will have four full days of rest on Sunday, however, and felt good after a bullpen game between starts on Thursday. The 39-year-old has a 3.09 ERA in 23 and 1/3 innings pitched since returning from the injured list this season, and most recently had his longest start of the season on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels. He threw a season-high 95 pitches in 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs.

“I felt like it was strong in the seventh inning as well, I felt like I had a good fastball in the seventh inning, I made some throws in the seventh inning,” Scherzer said Tuesday. “That’s another step forward.”

Gray will be available out of the bullpen on Sunday, according to Bochy. He pitched well in relief as a Ranger; he has a 0.00 ERA in four innings out of the bullpen this regular season and can be effective with a two-pitch fastball-slider mix.

Twitter: @McFarland_Shawn

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