Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer removed from World Series roster

Bruce Bochy met with the media prior to game four on Tuesday night and said gave updates about the injuries suffered by Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer in game three. He called Garcia's injury a moderate oblique strain and said Scherzer's back was still locked up. No decision had been made to that point about either players' ability to remain on the roster. Shortly before 6pm central time the Texas Rangers sent out this tweet below,

Both players are now out of the World Series and their seasons are officially over. Just a sad way to end the season for both players. Garcia came into the World Series having just won the ALCS MVP award and won game one with his dramatic walk-off home run. Scherzer worked his way all the way back from a shoulder injury in time to make two ALCS starts. He started in game three and pitched three scoreless innings before having to leave with the back injury. Unfortunately, the next time Garcia and Scherzer are in action will also be in Arizona. It will be next February in spring training in Surprise, Arizona.

The Replacements

The players called upon to replace Garcia and Scherzer are Ezequiel Duran and Brock Burke. Duran was the first half sensation that some around the Rangers were saying should have been Texas' seventh all-star selection. Duran did a great job filling in for Seager in his month on the IL with a hamstring injury. That tremendous play carried over for the rest of the first half. Duran slowed down significantly in the second half. He had a .226 batting average, .610 OPS, 2 home runs, and 11 RBIs. In September he was losing at-bats to both Evan Carter and Josh Smith. Duran has not played in a game since September 29th and has not started in a game since September 15th. His role in this series will likely be as a right-handed pinch hitter or pinch-running option.

Brock Burke is replacing Max Scherzer. Burke was on the roster in the wild card round and division series. He was replaced in the ALCS when Scherzer and Gray were brought off the injured list. Burke has made one appearance in the postseason. He pitched in game two of the division series. He faced three batters, giving up a hit and a walk. He was charged with two runs when Leclerc came in and allowed a three-run home run to Aaron Hicks. Burke did make two appearances against Arizona this season. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in May in a game Texas won. He faced Arizona again in August. He also pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up one run with one strikeout. I would expect him to be used in low leverage situations in short stints. Maybe Bochy brings him in to face an Arizona left-hander in a spot in the middle innings.

Texas will have to go without both Garcia and Scherzer the remainder of the series and will have to find a way to win two of the last four games to be World Series champions.