Nationals tap Strasburg for Game 1
Stephen Strasburg will start Game 1 of Washington’s NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs tonight in D.C., Nationals manager Dusty Baker announced Thursday, and twotime Cy Young Award winnerMax Scherzermight not pitch before Game 3.
Scherzer tweaked his right hamstring during his last regular- season start and bypassed planned bullpen sessions during workouts at Nationals Park on Wednesday and Thursday.
Lefty Gio Gonzalez did throw off a bullpen mound Thursday, making it seem likely he would start Game 2 on Saturday.
Baker said either Scherzer or Gonzalez would get Game 2, and the other Game 3.
Because of days off in the schedule, whoever pitches in Game 2 could be available on regular rest to start Game 5, if there is one.
The Cubs already announced their pitching plans, sayingWednesday that their rotation would be Kyle Hen- dricks in Game 1, Jon Lester in Game 2, Jose Quintana in Game 3 and Jake Arrieta in Game 4, if there is one.
Strasburg went 15- 4 with a 2.52 ERA and 204 strikeouts this season. Hendricks was 7-5, 3.03.
D’backs call onWalker
Taijuan Walker will start Arizona’sNLDivision Series opener against the Dodgers tonight after the craziness of the Diamondbacks’ wildcard game depleted their pitching staff.
Manager Torey Lovullo announced his choice Thursday for the game against Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw.
“I was ready,” said Walker, who wasn’t on the wild- card roster. “They told me to be ready for either Game 1 or Game 2.”
Walker is stepping up to make his playoff debut after presumptive starter Robbie Ray was forced to throw 2 1/3 innings in the Diamondbacks’ wild 11-8 victory over Colorado on Wednesday night. Starter Zack Greinke lasted only 3 2/3 innings.
Lovullo didn’t announce a starter forGame 2, thoughRay said he feels fresh. Greinke is expected to pitch Game 3 in Arizona onMonday.
Braves extendmanager
The Braves exercised their option on manager Brian Snitker for the 2018 season, providing some stability to a team looking for a new GM.
The decision came three days after GM John Coppolella was forced to resign when an investigation by MLB revealed serious rules violations in the international player market.
Surgery forMets’Wright
Mets captain David Wright underwent back surgery, his second operation in a month as he tries to return to themajor leagues aftermore than a year to date.
The team said Wright had a procedure in Los Angeles called a laminotomy, in which a bony layer over the spinal canal is removed to treat nerve compression. Wright has not played for theMets since May 27, 2016.