Max Scherzer said Tuesday that pitching in the postseason is something “you dream of.”
His Wednesday start veered more into the nightmare territory.
The 39-year-old right-hander returned from a shoulder injury for the Rangers and yielded five runs — including a homer — in four innings in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros at Globe Life Field.
He allowed five hits and struck out four before reliever Cody Bradford entered in the fifth.
After throwing a perfect first inning, Scherzer, who was sent by the Mets to Texas before the trade deadline, got into quick trouble in the second when he plunked slugger Yordan Alvarez to start the frame.
With one out, he then issued a walk to the struggling Kyle Tucker before Mauricio Dubon laced a single to left.
Scherzer gets Jeremy Pena to pop up for the second out, giving him an escape route.
Instead, Scherzer uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Alvarez to score from third.
On the next pitch, Martin Maldonado ripped a 101.7 mph single to left to bring home both runners, though the slow-footed catcher was thrown out trying to extend the hit into a double.
One frame later, Jose Altuve greeted Scherzer with a 413-foot solo homer to left to put Houston up 4-0.
The right-hander gave up a fifth run in the fourth on Dubon single.
He left the game having thrown 63 pitches, 42 of which were strikes, but threw first-pitch strikes to just 11 of 18 Astros batters.
Scherzer, a 2019 World Series champion, had a 3.58 career playoff ERA coming into the start.
In his last playoff start in Game 1 of the Mets’ wild-card series with the Padres, Scherzer gave up seven runs and four homers in 4 2/3 innings.
“Just trying to get back in the flow of things and just get in my routines, and I get to pitch,” Scherzer told reporters Tuesday about coming back. “You know, thrilled about that. What an opportunity to go out there and get to pitch in the ALCS. This is what you dream of.”
Scherzer hadn’t pitched since Sept. 12 when he strained the teres minor muscle in his right shoulder, keeping him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and first two rounds of the playoffs.
Heading into Wednesday, the Rangers were 7-0 in the 2023 playoffs.