The Texas Rangers are counting on Max Scherzer to start the final series against the Houston Astros on Sunday.

HOUSTON — A future Hall of Famer will close out the first half of the Texas Rangers’ season.

Right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer will start the Rangers against the Houston Astros on Sunday at Minute Maid Park, manager Bruce Bochy announced Saturday. Sunday’s series finale is the Rangers’ last before the All-Star break, and it theoretically should have been right-hander Jon Gray’s turn in the rotation.

Scherzer, however, will be off for four days Sunday and felt good after a rest period between starts Thursday. The 39-year-old has a 3.09 ERA in 23 1/3 innings pitched this season since returning from the disabled list, and threw his longest start of the season Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels. He threw a season-best 95 pitches in 6 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs.

“I felt like it was strong even there in the seventh, I felt like I had a good fastball there, I executed some pitches there,” Scherzer said Tuesday. “It’s another step forward.”

Gray will be available Sunday in relief, according to Bochy. He played well in relief as a Ranger; he has a 0.00 ERA in four innings as a reliever this regular season, and he can be effective with a mix of fastball and two-pitch slider.

Twitter: @McFarland_Shawn

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