With Game 7 of the ALCS looming, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is preparing to trot Max Scherzer out as his starting pitcher against the Astros on Monday night. It seems that another renowned pitcher also offered his services to Bochy for the series finale.
Former World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner reportedly reached out to Bochy and joked about toeing the rubber for Texas during its Game 7 tilt against Houston, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Bochy told Olney that Bumgarner texted him hours before Monday’s game and joked to the Rangers’ skipper that he’d be ready to go on the mound for Game 7. The left-hander won three World Series championships for Bochy with the Giants and compiled a career 8-3 record and 2.11 ERA in 16 postseason appearances.
In the hours before another Game 7 for Bruce Bochy today, he got a text from Madison Bumgarner, offering to pitch.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 23, 2023
The pitching matchup for Monday’s do-or-die game consists of Scherzer and Cristian Javier for the Astros.
Across 28 postseason career appearances, Scherzer has a 7–8 record and a 3.80 ERA. In his lone postseason start this year, the 39-year-old was shelled for five earned runs in four innings.
Javier has been phenomenal in his postseason career and has logged 10 2/3 innings across two starts during the ‘23 playoffs, surrendering just two runs.
Despite the generous offer, Bumgarner, who pitched just 16 2/3 innings this season before being released by the Diamondbacks, won’t be featuring for Texas in Game 7.
