Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer could land on the injured list after all. Scherzer said he will try to throw bullpen session on Monday to see if he can make his next start on Wednesday. However, if he can’t he’ll need a short stint on the IL, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.
Scherzer tweaked his groin during his last start on Friday. Just 12 pitches into the game, Scherzer was visibly shaken. After a mound visit from manager Dave Martinez and the head trainer and some stretching, Scherzer exited the game to head to the locker room.
After the game, the 36-year old hurler said he was “day-to-day” and was confident the tweak was fairly mild. Although, Martinez warned he was not out of the woods.
Scherzer played catch Sunday prior to Washington’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants. Hopefully, all things are a go during Monday’s bullpen session and he can get back on the mound.
Keeping him healthy would benefit the Nationals in multiple ways. For starters, he has been their most consistent starter and gives them a great chance to win every five days when he is on the mound. Also, they already have co-star pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the IL with a neck ailment.
Additionally, with the Nationals on the brink of fading out of playoff contention, Scherzer’s name has surfaced in trade rumors with him in the final year of his contract. Contenders, such as his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, are lurking for an opportunity to land the three-time Cy Young winner to bolster their rotations. An injury could take his name off the table and leave the Nationals at risk of losing him after season without compensation in return.
