Scherzer faces deGrom in preview of season opener
No surprise here: Max Scherzer will have the ball in his hands when he begins the final season of his seven-year, $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals.
Scherzer will make his Nationals-record sixth opening day start April 1, facing the New York Mets in Washington. It’ll be a rematch of an exhibition mound matchup Sunday, when Scherzer allowed two homers and threw 90 pitches in five innings of a 6-2 loss to the Mets and starter Jacob deGrom in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“He’s the guy. He’s the guy that gets everything started for us,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said in explaining his decision to use Scherzer in Game 1 — which, of course, was the expected outcome.
“He competes. You know what we’re going to get from him,” Martinez said. “He loves opening day. So he’s a guy we want to follow opening day.”
On Sunday, Scherzer allowed six hits and four earned runs, with a solo shot by Michael Conforto in the fourth and a two-run homer by Francisco Lindor in the fifth. Another run scored on a wild pitch.
Scherzer wasn’t too concerned by the results, of course. He said he was working on things, including trying a slide-step.
“You’re trying to get a read on their swings, how they’re trying to swing the bat, and realize they’re probably going to make adjustments, too,” said Scherzer, whose last outing before the games matter will come Saturday in a “B” game against the Houston Astros. “Just go at it, get your work in and get out of there. I’m just trying to get my pitches in.”
He also got an at-bat in. The original lineup released by Washington before the
game featured a designated hitter; that was revised to include Scherzer batting for himself.
DeGrom struck him out, part of his 4.2 scoreless innings with three hits and five Ks.
PADRES 4, ANGELS 1
Shohei Ohtani started and batted leadoff, the first time he has pitched and hit for himself in a spring training or regular-season game with Los Angeles. He went 2 for 2 with a walk, raising his exhibition batting average to .636. On the mound, he allowed one run and two hits in four innings, striking out five.
Angels slugger Albert Pujols hit his first home run.
Blake Snell worked 3.1 scoreless innings in the start for San Diego, giving up two hits, walking two and striking out three. Mark Melancon worked 1.2 innings of one-hit relief, striking out two. Brian O’Grady hit a leadoff triple in the first.
GIANTS 10, DODGERS 4
Looking to stage a comeback after not playing in the majors since 2016, Scott Kazmir started for San Francisco and allowed two hits, including Corey Seager’s home run, while striking out four of the six batters he retired. The 37-year-old lefty had pitched two innings earlier in spring training, giving up two runs.
Evan Longoria hit his fourth home run and Mike Yastrzemski hit his second. Zack Littell and James Sherfy each struck out the side in an inning of relief. Chadwick Tromp hit a grand slam in the seventh for the Giants.
Tony Gonsolin struck out five over 4.1 innings in the start for the Dodgers, allowing three runs.
METS 6, NATIONALS 2
DeGrom kept up his strong spring. Through 13.2 innings, he’s struck out 21 and has an 0.66 ERA. Edwin Diaz and Dellin Betances each worked an inning of relief, retiring the side in order with a strikeout. Michael Conforto and Francisco Lindor homered.
MARINERS 3, BREWERS 1
Seattle starter James Paxton struck out eight in 4.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits and a pair of walks. Keynan Middleton struck out the side in an inning of relief. Top outfield prospects Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodríguez each hit their second home run.