Not pitching in the postseason didn’t slow down Max Scherzer’s celebration.
The veteran pitcher was recorded going crazy in the Rangers’ clubhouse after they completed a three-game sweep of the Orioles with a 7-1 victory Tuesday to advance to the ALCS.
Scherzer and catcher Austin Hedges doused each other wildly with champagne and Budweiser during the well-earned and raucous celebration.
The question for the 39-year-old Scherzer is whether or not he will be available to pitch in the ALCS against the Astros or Twins (Houston leads that series, 2-1, entering Wednesday’s Game 4).
Scherzer, whom the Mets traded to Texas at the trade deadline, is dealing with a major teres strain in the shoulder that has sidelined him since Sept. 12.
“I can only tell them how I feel, how I am responding,” Scherzer told reporters outside the Rangers clubhouse on Tuesday night.
“They have an idea how they wanted to deploy me, how they wanted to use me and see this unfolding. You trust your general manager, trust your doctors, trust your trainers. You just roll with their decision and do everything I can be ready when my number gets called.”
The Rangers have been just fine this postseason without Scherzer, decimating the Rays and Orioles in five straight wins with an aggregate score of 32-12.
Outside of an 11-8 Game 2 win in Baltimore, the Rangers have allowed four runs in four games to the AL East’s top two teams.
Still, Scherzer would be an important addition with a best-of-seven series up next and a potential Texas showdown with the powerful Astros.
Scherzer went 4-2 with a with a 3.20 ERA in eight starts with the Rangers.
“I felt good today, so I would have said yes,” Scherzer said when asked what he would have said if the decision to pitch was up to him.
“They have a plan and they’re thinking about this as pragmatically as possible. For me, I get a chance to throw a sim game and extend my pitch count and get ready best I can.”
The ALCS starts Sunday in Houston or Minnesota.
Houston starts Jose Urquidy against Minnesota’s Joe Ryan in Game 4.