Rangers' Scherzer unlikely to return this year due to teres major strain

Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer will miss the remainder of the regular season with a right teres major strain, Rangers general manager Chris Young announced Wednesday, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Young added that it's unlikely Scherzer will return if the Rangers make the postseason, but he won't require surgery.

The teres major is a small muscle that runs along the border of the scapula (or shoulder blade). Scherzer's former teammate Justin Verlander missed more than one month of action earlier this season with the same injury.

"In some ways, I was almost relieved that it's not worse," Scherzer said, according to Sports Illustrated's Mitch Bannon. "It's not surgery. Talking with the doctors, I fully expect to make a full recovery."

Scherzer, 39, was forced to leave Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning with a right triceps spasm.

Andrew Heaney and Martín Pérez both started the season in the Rangers' rotation and are the likeliest options to replace Scherzer for manager Bruce Bochy.

The Rangers acquired Scherzer from the New York Mets on July 29. The three-time Cy Young winner posted a 4-2 record with a 3.20 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 45 innings in eight starts for the Rangers.

The Rangers entered play Wednesday holding the second wild-card spot in the American League. They lead the Seattle Mariners and the Blue Jays by a half-game and continue their series in Toronto on Wednesday.