Max Scherzer’s injury has had an impact on the Rangers locker room, according to Nathaniel Lowe and
Thex Teas Rangers’ recent struggles worsened when they lost Max Scherzer to a season-ending shoulder injury – a critical setback for a team fighting for its playoff life. Aside from the obvious impact Scherzer’s loss would have on the Rangers’ pitching staff, his inability to contribute to the team’s playoff drive has negatively impacted team morale.
Even during their emphatic 10-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, which put them in a postseason position if the season ended today, there was much unhappiness in the Rangers’ locker room. First baseman Nathaniel Lowe provided insight into the impact Scherzer’s injury has had on the Rangers locker room.
“I felt it today. It was pretty weird today. Obviously, we made a [trade] for Max. For him to not have the chance to compete and give us those innings is tough for him and tough for us as a unit,” Lowe said, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
One silver lining the Rangers managed to cling onto in the aftermath of Max Scherzer’s injury is that starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery was able to channel those negative emotions and turn them into something positive. In Montgomery’s case, he used Scherzer’s loss as fuel to pitch as well as he could, throwing seven innings of shutout baseball as they blanked the Blue Jays, on the road no less.
“I was disappointed about Max, but I was enraged about the way I’d been throwing lately.” I simply threw it all out there and let it all out. “Getting a good one felt good,” Montgomery said.
Nathaniel Lowe now believes that it will not be simply Jordan Montgomery who fills in for the Rangers’ pitching staff in the aftermath of Max Scherzer’s tragic injury.
“We have other good arms who are itching to get the ball.” We have some guys in whom we have faith. “They may not have performed as well as they would have liked to this point, but they are chomping at the bit,” Lowe continued.
The Rangers now have a perfect opportunity to complete a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays and move on to Cleveland on a high note.