Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (shoulder strain) placed on the disabled list

The Texas Rangers placed veteran right-hander Max Scherzer on the 15-day disabled list on Friday because of a strained throwing shoulder.

The measure is retroactive to Wednesday, a day after Scherzer gave up three runs over 68 pitches in four innings in the Rangers’ 8-1 loss on the road to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Scherzer, who celebrated his 40th birthday last Saturday, missed the first 2 1/2 months of this season recovering from back surgery. Since returning June 23, he is 2-4 with a 3.89 ERA in eight starts (39 1/3 innings total) for Texas.

Scherzer, a 17-year veteran, has a career record of 216-112 with a 3.16 ERA, winning three Cy Young Awards, making eight All-Star appearances and winning two World Series championships.

The defending champion Rangers were 52-57 as of Friday and 4 1/2 games out of first place in the American League West.

In a corresponding move on Friday, Texas promoted left-handed pitcher Walter Pennington from Triple-A Round Rock.

The Rangers acquired Pennington from the Royals on Monday in a trade that sent right-hander Michael Lorenzen to Kansas City.

Pennington, 26, has a 6-3 record with two saves and a 2.20 ERA in 38 minor league games (two starts) this season. He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his debut Thursday at Round Rock.

Pennington has spent three-plus minor league seasons going 22-11 with a 3.52 ERA and 257 strikeouts in 148 games (four starts) with 243 innings pitched.

Pennington made one major league appearance, pitching 1/3 of an inning in relief against the Colorado Rockies on July 5, striking out one batter.

–Field Level Media