Scherzer tries new grip after finger injury
Max Scherzer has come to grips with a finger injury — by coming up with a new, unusual grip for his fastball.
The Washington Nationals ace won the National League Cy Young Award last season despite a stress fracture on his right ring finger in the second half. The problem didn’t totally heal during the winter, so Scherzer is trying something different this spring.
“It is strange that I am throwing with three fingers,” Scherzer said.
His normal fastball grip — the one used by nearly every pitcher in the pros — employs two fingers on top of the ball with the ring finger bent along the side, providing stability in the hand.
That formation aggravates Scherzer’s injury by pressing the ball onto the knuckle. Earlier this spring, he straightened the ring finger, placing it on top of the ball along with his middle and index finger, a grip that alleviates the pressure and pain.
“What else am I going to do?” Scherzer said. “I’m willing to do it. I want to do it. It’s just part of what I’ve got to go out there and do — to pitch right now.”
Scherzer faced live hitters for the first time this spring Tuesday, throwing a live batting practice session to minor league hitters on one of the complex’s back fields before the Nationals’ game against Boston.
With manager Dusty Baker and general manager Mike Rizzo looking on, Scherzer worked from both the windup and the stretch, simulating two innings of action. He threw 44 pitches during the outing, most of which were fastballs.
The Nationals didn’t have a radar gun present, but Scherzer said he didn’t sense a drop in velocity with the three-fingered grip. He said it seemed to him the ball had the same spin as it normally did with a two-finger grip.
Scherzer doesn’t know the timeline for his next action and wouldn’t commit to the next step, which could be a simulated game or even Grapefruit League action.
“We don’t have a target day because we don’t know how he’s going to come out of this,” Baker said. “We’ll see how he comes out of this.”
The 32-year-old Scherzer went 20-7 last season with a 2.96 earned run average and a majorleague-leading 284 strikeouts. He also won the 2013 American League Cy Young with Detroit.
Tuesday games
› Pirates 6, Braves 3: Pittsburgh prospect Jose Osuna hit his third home run this season. Atlanta starter Jaime Garcia gave up two runs on two hits and two walks and struck out four over two innings.
› Cardinals 9, Marlins 2: Adam Wainwright threw three scoreless innings and Jhonny Peralta drove in two runs with a double and triple. Dexter Fowler added two hits for St. Louis. Marlins starter Tom Koehler gave up three earned runs on five hits and two walks over three innings.
› Red Sox 5, Nationals 3: Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez hit solo home runs off Washington starter Joe Ross. Pablo Sandoval had a two-run single for Boston. Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk over three innings.
› Yankees 7, Rays 6, 10 innings: CC Sabathia pitched two shutout innings for the Yankees. Adam Warren took over and gave up two earned runs on four hits and a walk over three innings. Chris Carter had an RBI single and Tyler Wade singled home Pete Kozma for the game-winner. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi allowed an earned run on five hits, striking out four, over two innings. Willy Adames and Corey Dickerson hit solo home runs for Tampa Bay.