Rangers starters Max Scherzer, Jon Gray added to ALCS roster

HOUSTON — Texas Rangers starters Max Scherzer and Jon Gray have been included in the lineup for the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros starting Sunday night.

Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been out since Sept. 12 with a shoulder muscle strain.

Scherzer, who was traded from the New York Mets this summer, said he was “ready to go” after throwing a bullpen session and performing on-field drills Friday.

Gray returns after last playing for the Rangers on September 25. He suffered from tightness in his right wrist.

For the Astros, their only change from the Division Series was replacing outfielder Jake Meyers with right-handed reliever Ronel Blanco. Manager Dusty Baker announced Saturday that reliever Kendall Graveman will not be on the roster because he continues to deal with right shoulder discomfort.

To make room for Scherzer and Gray, the Rangers removed left-hander Brock Burke and right-hander Matt Bush from the roster.

Scherzer is 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 27 career playoff games with 22 starts. When he appears for the Rangers, it will be the fifth team he pitches for in the postseason after playing for Detroit, Washington, the Dodgers and the Mets.

In Washington, he started Games 1 and 7 of the 2019 World Series against the Astros. He was victorious in the first game and held off the decision in the seventh game. He had a 3.60 ERA in 10 innings in this series.

He went 1-1 against Houston this season. He struck out eight and allowed one run in eight innings on June 19, but the Astros scored him for seven runs, with three homers, in three innings on September 6.

Gray went 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA in 29 starts this season.

Both teams have 13 position players and 13 pitchers on their roster.