Scherzer experiments with new grip after knuckle 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 NL 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. Sure is. 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.”
On Tuesday, Scherzer faced live hitters for the first time this spring, throwing a live batting practice session to minor league hitters on one of the complex’s back fields prior to 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, the majority of which were fastballs.
• Athletics 21, Diamondbacks 13 — A’s starter Sonny Gray allowed the first five batters to reach and score, including a three-run homer by Ketel Marte. Gray completed two innings and allowed seven earned runs on five hits and four walks. Marcus Semien went 3 for 3 with four RBIs while Yonder Alonso and Trevor Plouffe each had two hits. Oakland scored 11 runs in the sixth.
Arizona starter Shelby Miller gave up six earned runs on five hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings.
• Giants 4, Dodgers 2 — Clayton Kershaw pitched three hitless innings for Los Angeles.
Giants starter Matt Moore struck out five over three shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks. Jae-gyun Hwang and Mac Williamson both hit their second home runs.
• Reds 7, Royals 3 — Eugenio Suarez and Ryan Raburn each hit home runs and Joey Votto had two hits for Cincinnati.
Mike Moustakas and Billy Burns homered, and Kansas City starter Travis Wood gave up two earned runs on four hits and a walk over 2 2/3 innings. Chris Young gave up a pair of homers, but struck out five, in three innings.