The Washington Nationals will be without its ace during a pivotal three-game series against National League East rival, the Philadelphia Phillies. Max Scherzer will miss his scheduled start Sunday due to back tightness.
Scherzer did not pitch in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game for the same reason. Scherzer underwent an MRI that came back negative, according to Nationals manager Davey Martinez.
Anibal Sanchez will start in Scherzer’s place Sunday.
The Nationals and Phillies currently occupy both NL wild cards entering the weekend series. Stephen Strasburg will take the mound Friday and Patrick Corbin Saturday for Washington.
Scherzer is coming off a dominant June in which he was named NL Pitcher of the Month. He has won each of his last seven starts while the Nationals won 28 of their last 39 games before the All-Star break.
