Scherzer scratched from start, put on DL with sore neck
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer was scratched from his scheduled start Friday and placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sore neck.
Manager Dusty Baker announced the move about two hours before first pitch.
Scherzer, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who is 12-5 with a 2.25 ERA, said this is the same affliction that forced him out of a start at Miami on Aug. 1 after just one inning, but on the other side of the neck. He said he slept on it wrong two nights earlier and felt it lock up after doing a pregame workout Thursday.
“I tried to get it ready to go today and it locked up fully and I wasn’t able to go,” he said. “It’s frustrating. I’ve never been on the DL in my career. I’ve always had that as a badge of honor. I’m frustrated that this has re-occurred and I’m not able to pitch.”
With Scherzer out, the Nationals turned to Matt Grace to face the San Diego Padres. Grace pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings and combined with five relievers to hold the Padres to four hits in a 7-1 victory.