Texas Rangers

A playoff legend offered to take the ball for the Texas Rangers in Monday's Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.

The only problem?

He's not on the Rangers.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported Madison Bumgarner texted Rangers manager Bruce Bochy ahead of Monday's game and offered to pitch. While the offer was surely in good fun, few know how effective Bumgarner has been in these moments throughout his career better than Bochy.

After all, he managed the southpaw for 11 seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

All Bumgarner did was build a resume that includes three World Series titles, a World Series MVP and a National League Championship Series MVP. In 16 playoff games, the 34-year-old has a 2.11 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and three complete-game shutouts.

While Bumgarner has been excellent in the playoffs throughout his career, Texas will turn toward a likely future Hall of Famer in Max Scherzer with the season on the line.

The veteran has three Cy Young awards and a World Series title of his own, although he may not be at his best at this point considering he allowed five earned runs in four innings in Wednesday's Game 3.

It was his first appearance since Sept. 12 because of a right shoulder strain.

Perhaps he can channel his inner-Bumgarner and deliver in the biggest moment.

Big Game Nate, Nasty Nate, call him whatever you want.

All you need to know is that Nathan Eovaldi is gonna show up when the lights are shining brightest. And that's exactly what he did in the Texas Rangers' 9-2 win over the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the ALCS on Sunday night.

Facing a 3-2 series deficit, the Rangers needed a huge performance out of their postseason ace to keep their season alive.

Eovaldi obliged.

The two-time All-Star was dominant for most of the night. In 6.1 innings of work, he surrendered just two runs on five hits while striking out four Astros. It was exactly what Texas needed to ease their nerves.

Unlike in Game 5, the Rangers didn't surrender their lead, as José Leclerc managed to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the eighth inning while holding on to a 4-2 lead.

Texas managed to blow things open in the next frame, preserve a dominant Eovaldi outing and force a Game 7.

Rangers fans had nothing but praise for another clutch performance by their big-game pitcher.

Nathan Eovaldi with another big Postseason start! 👏 pic.twitter.com/7u0ZHWJqwR

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 23, 2023

Nathan Eovaldi with the season on the line:

— 6.1 IP
— 5 Hits Allowed
— 2 ER Allowed (so far)
— 4 Ks 3 BB
— 88 Pitches (51 Strikes)

Big game Nate #GoAndTakeIt pic.twitter.com/BXVMTALpj2

— Rangers Muse (@MuseRangers) October 23, 2023

Hat tip to Nathan Eovaldi. Outstanding effort with the season on the line. #GoAndTakeIt

— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) October 23, 2023

NATHAN EOVALDI’S DAY IS DONE

HIS STAT LINE:

6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K’S ON 88 PITCHES (51 FOR STRIKES)

NATHAN EOVALDI GAVE EVERYTHING HE COULD 🫡

NATHAN EOVALDI GAVE THE TEXAS RANGERS A CHANCE

AND THAT’S ALL YOU COULD ASK FOR 🫡

— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) October 23, 2023

Nathan Eovaldi is such a competitor.

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) October 23, 2023

I love Nathan Eovaldi so much.

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) October 23, 2023

The @Rangers Eovaldi delivered AGAIN … 6 1/3IP H5 R2 BB3 K4 … he has taken his game to another level … OCTOBER Pitcher …. Rangers lead 3-2 T8th. pic.twitter.com/S1ZDHXMgOs

— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) October 23, 2023

Nathan Eovaldi exits after giving up a 1-out single to Jose Altuve

His stat line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K

Couldn’t ask for more from Nasty Nate #GoAndTakeIt #ALCS

— Jett Beachum (@JetthroTV) October 23, 2023

Put his team on his back AGAIN.

Postseason career: 2.87 ERA in 69 IP

2023 Postseason: 2.42 ERA in 26 IP

When the lights are on, put in Nate Eovaldi pic.twitter.com/0SSnW630cM

— Peter Appel (@peterappel23) October 23, 2023

GREAT start by Eovaldi no matter what happens the rest of the way. For an injury prone guy with a career 4.00 ERA, man he has been big in the playoffs. He’s had his best year this season. Tip of the 🧢 to him.

— Kevin Dunn (@KevinDunn01) October 23, 2023

https://twitter.com/marcelo_or90673/status/1716284016574496785

Nathan Eovaldi is a playoff Dude.

— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) October 23, 2023

The final line on Nathan Eovaldi: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.

In 26 playoff innings (four starts) he has a 2.42 ERA.

— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) October 23, 2023

Following the dramatics, brawl and ejections in Game 5, there was perhaps no man more hated in the entire city of Houston than Adolis García.

The Rangers slugger was at the center of the Astros fans' ire all night long and heard it every single time he stepped up to the plate. That's why it was so sweet when he managed to jack a massive grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to blow the game open and ensure that there would be a Game 7.

García had struck out in his previous four at-bats, but no one's gonna remember that after the message he sent to everyone inside of Minute Maid Park.

And he once again proved to be the Rangers' hero.

ADOLIS GARCÍA GRAND SLAM 💥

Rangers lead 9-2 in Game 6

(via @MLBONFOX)
pic.twitter.com/AYFGgSJUzd

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2023

Adolis Garcia’s first four at-bats: four strikeouts

Adolis Garcia’s fifth at-bat: a grand slam to take tight, taut ballgame and turn it into a blowout.

The Rangers lead the Astros, 9-2.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 23, 2023

Adolis Garcia is actually him https://t.co/NnloeExXDv

— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) October 23, 2023

ADOLIS GARCÍA!!!!! YOU OWN THE ASTROS. GRAND SLAM!!!! WHERE ARE YOU MALDY???? WHERE ARE YOU???? 9-2!!!!!!

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) October 23, 2023

Adolis García with the 3rd grand slam in Rangers postseason history, joining:

2023 ALDS G3 Mitch Garver
2011 ALCS G2 Nelson Cruz (walk-off) https://t.co/MIZjPqslRH

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 23, 2023

ADOLIS GARCIA GRAND SLAM!

APPEAL THAT!

9-2 TEXAS!

— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) October 23, 2023

ADOLIS GARCIA IS THE GREATEST HUMAN TO EVER LIVE OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!

— Brice Paterik (@BricePaterik) October 23, 2023

OH MY GOD HE DID IT

ADOLIS GARCIA GRAND SLAM IN THE 9TH AFTER STRIKING OUT FOUR TIMES

RANGERS LEAD 9-2#GoAndTakeIt #ALCS https://t.co/45Qfq6p5qd

— Jett Beachum (@JetthroTV) October 23, 2023

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1716289804718022858

Adolis Garcia with the ultimate revenge smashing a grand slam! 😤🔥 #GoAndTakeIt

— Max Preston (@MaxPrestonTV) October 23, 2023

With a trip to the World Series on the line Monday night in Houston, the Rangers unfortunately won't be able to turn to Eovaldi in another big spot.

It'll be interesting to see if Bruce Bochy opts to go with Max Scherzer in Game 7 after he took the loss in his Game 3 start, which was his first game after being activated from the injured list.

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García took centerstage in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Friday.

In the sixth inning, he blasted a three-run home run to give Texas a 4-2 lead, and he orchestrated a legendary celebration in the process.

The passion of the #Postseason! pic.twitter.com/wIF5Jjb2YU

— MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2023

Two innings later, Astros reliever Bryan Abreu went up and in with a 99 mph fastball to Garcia, who didn't take kindly to the pitch whatsoever, eventually leading to a bench clearing and three ejections.

After the game, Garcia was asked if he thought the Abreu pitch was intentional, and he gave this response.

Rangers OF Adolis Garcia, asked if he thought he was intentionally hit for his HR celebration: "We're in the postseason, you know. It's the moment. You hit a ball like that, you're going to celebrate..If they're trying to react to that, I don't think that's the correct way.''

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 21, 2023

Based on his on-field reaction, Garcia certainly had a problem with the pitch, and rightfully so, because seeing a 99 mph fastball thrown near your head is probably horrifying.

Whether or not it was intentional is up for debate.

Yes, the two teams have a history, as evidenced by this bench-clearing incident earlier this year:

Flashback to the benches clearing incident that happened in Houston earlier this season. pic.twitter.com/VxXZYjBTkC

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023

And yes, the Astros may have had a problem with the homer celebration.

At the same time, the Astros were down 4-2 with a runner on first and no one out in the bottom of the eighth inning in a critical playoff game. Intentionally hitting a batter only critically damages the team's season in that moment.

Regardless, Houston ended up winning 5-4 to lead the ALCS three games to two after a Jose Altuve homer.

Garcia, Abreu and Astros manager Dusty Baker (who took great exception to his pitcher's objection) were not there to see the end of it, but they'll all be back Sunday when Texas hosts Houston for Game 6.

The pitch from Bryan Abreu that hit Texas Rangers batter Adolis García did more than spark a benches-clearing brawl during Game 5 of the ALCS Friday night.

It also "woke up the Houston Astros," Astros catcher Martín Maldonado told Fox Sports after the game.

The Astros were trailing the Rangers by two runs at the time of the brawl. After the dust settled, a three-run homer from José Altuve earned Houston a 5-4 comeback win in the ninth.

García initially reacted to the hit-by-pitch by turning and confronting Maldonado.

"The worst thing he did was wake up the Houston Astros."

Martín Maldonado reacts to the exchange between himself and Adolis García as benches cleared in the 8th.@kevinburkhardt | @AROD | @davidortiz | @derekjeter pic.twitter.com/UHgUxIYeRP

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 21, 2023

A heated exchange between Adolis Garcia and Martín Maldonado. pic.twitter.com/2vB883oCh1

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023

After trailing 0-2 to begin the series, the Astros now lead the ALCS 3-2.

In García's prior at-bat, the Rangers outfielder had put Texas ahead in the bottom of the sixth by smashing a go-ahead three-run home run.

"I know he was upset because he hit the homer in the previous at-bat, and he could have took it that way," Maldonado said.

After the resulting brawl, García was one of the players ejected from the game.

After the contentious bottom of the eighth ended with two strikeouts, the Astros wasted no time beginning their comeback.

Yainer Díaz opened the final inning with a single and Jon Singleton orchestrated a walk to get two runners on base before Altuve stepped up to the plate with no outs on the board.

Despite that apparently immediate response, Astros manager Dusty Baker, who was ejected from the game alongside García, told reporters he didn't know if he agreed with Maldonado's assessment that the brawl sparked the late comeback.

"I wasn't seeing nothing," Baker said after the game, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "I was just seeing red, you know. I couldn't even see straight.''

No matter what sparked the comeback, it will be a happy Houston team heading back home for Sunday's Game 6. The Astros are now within one win of making it to the World Series for the third year in a row.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy had a positive outlook Wednesday following potential future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Max Scherzer's struggles in an 8-5 loss to the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

Pitching for the first time in over a month due to a strained throwing shoulder, Scherzer allowed five hits, one walk and five earned runs, while striking out four on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Bochy chose to look on the bright side of things, saying: "He's going to be a little rusty overall. I was really pleased with his stuff. It's only going to get better. ... He feels good, that's what important."

Texas acquired Scherzer from the New York Mets in July ahead of the trade deadline with the hope that he could be the lead dog in the starting rotation and lead the Rangers to their first World Series title.

The 39-year-old veteran made only eight regular-season starts for the Rangers before getting injured, going 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 53 strikeouts over 45 innings.

Even without Scherzer for the final few weeks of the season, the Rangers managed to finish 90-72 and clinch the No. 2 wild-card spot in the American League.

Texas made it through the first two rounds of the playoffs undefeated, sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles to reach the ALCS.

The Rangers went on to take the first two games of the ALCS in Houston as well, and headed back home just two wins away from punching their ticket to the World Series for the first time since 2011.

Houston got to the Rangers' ace in order to cut the series deficit to 2-1, but Scherzer seemed confident in his ability to turn things around after the loss, saying: "It comes down to execution. I know what I need to do."

The Rangers are seemingly going with a four-man rotation in the ALCS, as Andrew Heaney is scheduled to start Thursday's Game 4, which means Scherzer is currently lined up to start Game 7 should it happen.

With eight All-Star selections, three Cy Young awards and a World Series ring to his credit, Scherzer is unquestionably one of the best pitchers of the past 20 years.

He has traditionally been a solid starter during the postseason as well, going 7-8 with a 3.80 ERA during his playoff career.

There is a good chance the Rangers will need Scherzer again in the ALCS, World Series or both, and there is seemingly no shortage of faith within the organization that he can bounce back.

It may have just been too soon to bring Max Scherzer back into the postseason fray.

In his start since Sept. 12, Scherzer got shelled in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field en route to an 8-5 loss, giving the reigning champions some hope as they got their first win of the series.

Scherzer had been out for more than a month with a strained muscle in his right shoulder but was named the starter for Game 3 earlier in the series. Unfortunately for the Rangers, it was a rough outing for the veteran.

The three-time Cy Young award winner got hit early and often, giving up five runs in just four innings of work, including a massive solo homer to José Altuve in the third inning.

The Astros were confident in their ability to face Scherzer—who was at one time one of the most feared pitchers in all of MLB—and showed why. They handled everything the future Hall of Famer had to throw at them.

Scherzer struggled against the Astros in the regular season as well. In his penultimate start of the regular season, he gave up seven runs—three homers—in just three innings against Houston back on Sept. 6.

And things didn't really change Wednesday.

MLB fans were ready to rip him for the poor outing.

The postseason hasn't been kind to Max Scherzer as of late 😬 pic.twitter.com/2N0UdvRaeb

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 19, 2023

Max Scherzer's day is done. pic.twitter.com/xOjtgf3uVI

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 19, 2023

Astros with 3 runs on Max Scherzer in the second inning 💥

(via @MLB)
pic.twitter.com/ExIJTkXLbi

— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) October 19, 2023

Me watching Max Scherzer get shelled in the postseason pic.twitter.com/0jlvjqc5i3

— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) October 19, 2023

Jose Altuve takes Max Scherzer deep! pic.twitter.com/vg3S7mbw2L

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 19, 2023

If this keeps up, the umps should start using the between-innings substance checks to provide Max Scherzer with sticky stuff.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 19, 2023

Max Scherzer under the lights pic.twitter.com/aqi452LS0l

— Sam (@TreIindor20) October 19, 2023

Max Scherzer looking in the mirror tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/WodHBc7hFI

— MLB Spongebob (@MLBSponge) October 19, 2023

would appear max scherzer was not ready to come back tonight

— Nick (@FWBluesFan) October 19, 2023

My goodness Max Scherzer 😬😬#Postseason #ALCS https://t.co/vVv3QPFYXm

— Kevin Agustin (@_kevinagustin) October 19, 2023

Max Scherzer hasn’t been an effective postseason pitcher for multiple years now. There’s a lot of mileage on that arm on top of consistent injuries. I knew the contract he signed with the Mets in no way shape or form would pay off for whomever pays it. He’s basically done.

— St. Louis Chatter (@RealSTLChatter) October 19, 2023

Max Scherzer is like a home run derby out there, Lord have mercy

— Nick Stines (@nickstines) October 19, 2023

Rangers couldn’t have been flying higher and thought that bringing back postseason Max Scherzer was going to keep things that way. https://t.co/Lza0VYbGOd

— John Lund (@lundinbridge) October 19, 2023

Idk man… Postseason Scherzer these days pic.twitter.com/ArrhKiBN7p

— Gomer (@GomesDaLegend) October 19, 2023

Max Scherzer getting shelled in a HUGE game? pic.twitter.com/ycGvGyFDhZ

— Casey (@CaseyJ_516) October 19, 2023

Expected this could happen with Scherzer’s rust. Came out throwing strikes, but a few guys were locked in on him and just left a few too far over the plate

— Tyler Sloan (@tsloan_17) October 19, 2023

Maybe Scherzer first game back wasn’t the move

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) October 19, 2023

The Rangers will now look to bounce back against the defending champions in Game 4 on Thursday.

There was a time when Max Scherzer was one of the most feared pitchers in all of MLB, regular season or postseason.

But as the three-time Cy Young award winner gears up for a Game 3 ALCS start for the Texas Rangers against the Houston Astros on Wednesday night, it appears that the reigning champs feel confident in their ability to attack Scherzer.

"The Astros aren't going to be afraid of him," one MLB executive told ESPN's Buster Olney. "There's not going to be some mystique with him. He's a good pitcher, but they know him and they've hit him [recently] and when they face him, they'll have a game plan."

"The best thing he'll have going for him is his experience."

Houston has good reason for that fearlessness.

The last time Scherzer faced the Astros in the regular season he got shelled. He gave up seven runs in three innings, allowing homers to Yordan Alvarez, Michael Brantley and Jose Abreu.

Shortly after that start. the future Hall of Famer was placed on the injured list with a strain in his right shoulder and hasn't pitched since then with the exception of a simulated game against his Texas teammates.

So, in addition to the postseason pressure, Scherzer will also potentially be dealing with some rust against an explosive Astros' offense.

Not exactly a great combination.

Luckily, the Rangers did a good job of stealing home-field advantage from Houston, allowing Scherzer to get back to work in front of raucous Texas fanbase at Globe Life Field.

Since being traded to Texas ahead of the deadline, Scherzer has gone 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and a 0.956 WHIP.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed Max Scherzer will start Game 3 of the 2023 American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.

Scherzer hasn't pitched since Sept. 12 due to a muscle strain in his shoulder. However, excitement about a possible return began building when the Rangers added him to their ALCS roster.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner told reporters last Friday he had "recovered" from his shoulder trouble.

"I checked all the boxes I possibly can. I'm ready to go," he said. "I respect what Houston can do. They're obviously a great team. I've got to bring my A-game."

Scherzer has been throwing in sim games to continue his progression on the mound but said it's impossible to know how deep into Game 3 he'll be able to pitch.

"You tell me what 68 pitches in a sim game translates to a playoff start."

What to expect from Max Scherzer in Game 3:@Rangers | #Postseason | #GoandTakeit pic.twitter.com/20MX2lx2Dx

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) October 16, 2023

Prior to his injury, the 39-year-old performed to expectations on the mound after his midseason trade to Texas. In eight starts, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 45 innings.

Scherzer was helping to fill the void left by Jacob deGrom after he underwent Tommy John surgery.

The Rangers have gotten to this point in the playoffs without the right-hander's services, but having him available could clearly be a boost to their World Series hopes. That is, of course, if he can immediately return to where he was pre-injury, which is no guarantee when he has been out for a month.

The Rangers will look to take a 2-0 series lead on the Astros when the teams resume action Monday at Minute Maid Park in Houston.