Jane Njoku

Max Scherzer announced that he only does pitchers’ fielding practice just twice a year: once in Spring Training, and once before the start of postseason.

On Friday, two days ahead of the Texas Rangers’ American League Championship Series match with the Houston Astros, Scherzer did PFPs at Globe Life Field, to signal his possible return to the mound. Now he will wait to hear what his next steps are.

Scherzer has been sidelined since September 13th with a low-grade strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder. He threw live batting practice Wednesday of about 65 pitches before following with a bullpen session and PFPs on Friday. If he was making the calls, Scherzer said he would be ready to go. 

“I recovered,” Scherzer told reporters Friday. “I checked all the boxes I possibly can. I’m ready to go. I respect what Houston can do. They’re obviously a great team. I’ve got to bring my A-game.”

Bought from the New York Mets at the Trade Deadline, Scherzer posted a 3.20 ERA across eight starts before ending up on the injured list.

He continued his throwing program throughout the time he was on the IL, with hopes of returning if Texas made a deep run in the postseason.

“We’ve been talking through this whole process with the doctors as well, about where we thought this should trend, what we should be feeling,” Scherzer said. “We all have a hand in this, and we’re all trying to make the best decision possible.”

Rangers’ Manager Bruce Bochy did not address the media on Friday. But pitching coach Mike Maddux confirmed that Scherzer is indeed progressing in the right direction.

“We’re very encouraged,” Maddux said. “He threw I think 68 [pitches] against hitters and maintained his stuff. He didn’t skip a beat from one to 68. That was the encouraging part. He needs to sharpen up a little bit. But overall [it was] very encouraging, and the fact that he bounced back and played a good game of catch yesterday. We’re looking all thumbs up for today.”

If he is activated, Scherzer would probably be in a slot behind Game 1 starter Jordan Montogomery and Nathan Eovaldi in the rotation. The Rangers piggybacked Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning to begin Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the Orioles after Montgomery and Eovaldi started the two matches in the Wild Card Series over the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Toronto Maple Leaf’s Ryan Reaves wants a rematch with Arber Xhekaj.

“Yeah. I don’t like getting jumped,” the Toronto Maple Leafs winger said Friday.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever really jumped anybody. If you want to fight, just ask me. I’m always around. You know where to find me.”

In Wednesday’s 6-5 wild opening-night victory over the Montreal Canadiens, Reaves slammed Kaiden Guhle into the boards on a hard forecheck.

Xhekaj took offense and pounced on Reaves, grabbing him behind the goal line and starting a brawl that ended when the Habs defenceman pushed Reaves into the Montreal net, knocking everything over.

“The guy obviously threw a couple big hits, and I wanted to stick up for my teammates there. Definitely proud of how I carried myself,” Xhekaj told Montreal reporters on Thursday.

“If it needs to be done, I’ll be there.”

Xhekaj got an extra two minutes for starting a fight, plus a 10-minute misconduct and 67.6 per cent of HockeyFights.com’s users ruled in favour of the Canadien.

Reaves (six-foot-two, 226 pounds) was clear on wanting to square off one-on-one with Xhekaj (six-foot-four, 240 pounds). 

“I don’t know if he (pushed me into the net) on purpose to end it or what. I don’t know. Once I kinda stood up and he ended up grabbing me, he just kind of tried pushing me for the rest of the way,” Reaves said.

“So, I felt like it was on purpose. But we got (the Canadiens) two more times. I’m sure something might happen. I don’t want to go out like that.”

Xhekaj dropped the gloves nine times last winter in his rookie season and will not back down from a challenge.

The undrafted NHL sophomore said he and Reaves did not exchange words after their fight, which was more of a  “more of a wrestling match.” It marked the Montreal player’s first fight since he injured his shoulder, and he was pleased with how his throwing arm responded.

While Reaves did not best his challenger, the veteran still waved his arm in celebration after the tussle. He is a showman with a mission to bring some “swagger” (coach Sheldon Keefe’s word) into Maple Leafs culture.

“I’ve always done that. I like to bring energy, whether it’s in the locker room, on the bench, into the crowd. That’s kind of my job here. So, a little bit of a sleepy start. Try and get some in the body, get the crowd into a little bit — that’s what I was brought here to do,” Reaves explained.

“I don’t know if it makes a difference or not. But if it gets the crowd up a little bit, sure.”

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