Max Scherzer’s season so far has been anything but smooth. After the Texas Rangers acquired him in a trade deadline deal with the New York Mets in 2023, there was a lot of excitement and high expectations. But the 40-year-old had a tough start from the get-go. He began the season on the injured list and was recovering from off-season back surgery. Then Scherzer was set to make his comeback in mid-May, but only after a rehab appearance, he was sidelined because of a nerve problem. But it’s not over yet!

Fast forward to now, and his already tough year has taken a curvier turn yet again. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was removed from making his start for the Rangers. He is now placed on a 15-day injured list because of a left hamstring strain. And with this, his season also ends!

On Saturday, Scherzer wasn’t available both before and after the game, and manager Bruce Bochy came to update on his player’s condition, quoting it as “challenging” for both Scherzer and the team.

Max Scherzer’s done for the season already!

Scherzer has had a couple of healthy games this year, but one thing was constant—arm fatigue and nerve problems. These prevented him from reaching his usual form, and the saga continues. Because he is back on the injured list! The manager of the team, Bruce Bochy, said, “Max woke up today, and his left hamstring was tight. Tight to the point where he said he couldn’t go.”

So apparently Scherzer felt the pain a little yesterday running some sprints, but he thought it would clear up; sadly, it didn’t.

Max Scherzer’s nine starts this year are his fewest ever since he started as a rookie in 2008. Talking about the year, manager Bochy acknowledged Scherzer’s tough time, saying, “He’s been trying hard to get back out there pitching, which he has. Yeah, it’s a challenge. You want him out there. We were hoping to see him out there on a consistent basis, but we had some things that we were trying to figure out with him, and now it’s a hamstring.” Now this is undoubtedly a tough time for Scherzer, but it is also difficult for the team. It’s a two-way battle!

But because the game must go on, Dane Dunning took the place of Max Scherzer, and he put in a stellar effort. He allowed two runs and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings. But despite that, the team lost an 8-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

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Did Texas Ranger sign the bad end of the deal?

The Texas Rangers‘ trade of getting Max Scherzer was a move to help shake up their lineup—but it hasn’t paid off. Scherzer, after nine starts, is back on the injured list, and with just a 3.95 ERA over 88 1/3 innings across 17 starts. He is far from the game-changer the team was hoping for. Texas Rangers now sit well off their playoff contention, eight games under 500.

Moreover, if you look at Luisangel Acuna’s performance, who was part of the Scherzer deal, it feels like a swing-and-miss for the Texas Rangers.

The New York Mets, on the other hand, have benefited by having Luisangel Acuna as a part of the team. The 22-year-old former Texas top prospect was acquired by the Mets as a part of the Scherzer deal. And they might be thanking the stars for it! In just 24 plate appearances, Acuna has three home runs and has given the Mets an offensive spark, exactly what they needed. Acuna’s timely efforts have made him from just a prospect to a game-changer!

The contrast between the two teams shows exactly who has the better end of the deal. While the Rangers are struggling even to stay afloat, the Mets are having a phenomenal time. They are heading to October with confidence, with Acuna leading the charge. This might lead the Texas Ranger to wonder – what could have been if that for that deal?

Presently, questions of whether this injury marks Scherzer’s end this season or just with the team overall are making the rounds. This is because he goes free-agent after this season. What do you think about the entire situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.