Max Scherzer‘s regular season is over due to a strained teres major in his shoulder, according to Rangers GM Chris Young. If the Rangers are able to advance to the playoffs, Young told reporters that it’s “unlikely” the former Cy Young winner will pitch there, either.

Scherzer was traded from the Mets to the Rangers ahead of the trade deadline for infielder Luisangel Acuña, who is now the team’s No. 1 overall prospect, according to MMO’s Mike Mayer.

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Scherzer has been mostly solid for Texas since the trade, going 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA, although he allowed seven runs in a Sept. 6 loss against the division-rival Astros. Scherzer now becomes the second former Mets ace to suffer a season-ending injury for the Rangers this year, joining Jacob deGrom, who suffered a torn UCL in June after starting just six games.

The Rangers now face an incredibly tough uphill battle to attempt to make and advance in the postseason. They entered Wednesday clinging to the second wild card spot in the AL, but are just a half-game ahead of the Mariners and Blue Jays. Only two of three teams will make the playoffs.

For the Mets, trading Scherzer for their top organizational prospect seems even more like a win now than it did in July.  Regardless of how good of a major-leaguer Acuña turns out to be, the Mets moved on from Scherzer at perhaps the last real opportunity they had to recoup any significant value from a 39-year-old pitcher who’s body appears to be failing him. With the Mets not in contention in 2023, Scherzer going out every fifth day and wearing his body down even more for a team in fourth place would have been bad for both parties.

The only positive for Scherzer and the Rangers at this point is that surgery is not needed, which means he should be healthy for the start of next season. Scherzer has already opted into the player option for the 2024 season, of which the Mets are covering a significant portion of. Scherzer, who will turn 40 next July, has dealt with numerous injuries since the start of the 2022 season. He missed significant time with an oblique injury last season and also missed time earlier this year as well after suffering neck spasms. Additionally, he was suspended for 10 games early in the season for using sticky substances in a game against the Dodgers.