Texas Rangers supporters are feeling like they've been thrown a curveball with the recent announcement that Max Scherzer won't be throwing any for the rest of the regular season. A nagging issue with his right teres major muscle has benched their star pitcher, stirring up a storm of questions about the team's playoff aspirations.

This situation doesn't just stop at the foul lines; it's got folks pondering the bigger picture for what should be a nail-biting postseason. This comes as fans are still thinking about the possibility of a chance of Texas sports betting legalization — a hot topic everyone is talking about, but the outcome is anybody's guess.

According to general manager Chris Young, surgery isn't expected for Scherzer, who's now on the 15-day injured list. However, Young made it clear that it's "unlikely" the three-time Cy Young Award winner will take the mound in the postseason if the Rangers manage to get there. As Young put it, "It's certainly bad news today. We're very sorry for Max, obviously. It's the last thing he wanted; he's such a competitor."

Scherzer was taken out of the Rangers' 6-3 win over the Blue Jays this Tuesday after throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings. The team initially reported his exit as due to "right triceps spasms." It's worth mentioning that he also left a game against the Twins earlier this month because of forearm tightness. Scherzer believes these injuries are related, stating, "If the forearm is not at 100%, that stress is gonna go somewhere else on your arm."

Joining the Rangers from the Mets in a trade deadline deal, Scherzer had turned his luck around in Texas. He posted a 3.20 ERA across 8 starts. While he's grateful that his current condition won't require surgery, the immediate concern is who will fill his big shoes in the Rangers' pitching lineup. This turn of events not only puts pressure on the bullpen but also on the team's hitters to step up their game. The management now faces the critical decision of whether to seek external talent or rely on their existing roster to navigate through this unexpected hurdle.

The team now has to sort out its rotation, which currently includes Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery, Jon Gray, and Dane Dunning. Two left-handed pitchers, Martín Pérez and Andrew Heaney, appear to be the likely candidates to replace Scherzer. Both were in the rotation before the Trade Deadline shook things up. There's also rookie Cody Bradford, who has been pulling his weight with 40 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings this season.

Chris Young remains optimistic despite the setback. "I'm confident in the pitchers that we have and our ability to fill these innings," he said. "Between Andrew Heaney and Martín Pérez and Cody Bradford, these guys have all pitched successfully at different points in the season. We're very confident that each one of those guys can step in and fill this role."

So, yes, it's been a tough second half for the Rangers, who have lost five of their six All-Stars and now a future Hall of Fame pitcher. But, as Young points out, the team has "shown a ton of resolve all season long." And that's what the team — and the fans — will need to hold onto as they face the rest of the regular season and, hopefully, the playoffs.

Time will tell if this team has the depth and resilience to overcome the obstacles in their path. The spotlight is now on the remaining players to rise to the occasion and fill the void left by Scherzer. But one thing is sure: the Rangers' journey to the postseason just got a whole lot more interesting. As fans, analysts, and players alike recalibrate their expectations, the next few weeks promise to be a rollercoaster of emotions and high-stakes baseball.