Scherzer faces minor ‘challenge’ in low-key setting

JUPITER, Fla. — Max Scherzer got in his work, in a more relaxed setting.

With the Mets wanting to stretch out Tylor Megill on Monday against major league hitters, Scherzer agreed to pitch in a minor league game on a back field behind Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Mets coace allowed five runs, three of which were earned, over parts of five innings.

Scherzer said it was “a challenge” pitching in the low-key setting, but hopes it will prepare him for such situations during the regular season.

“There’s going to be different environments I pitch in this year where there’s not a lot of fans,” Scherzer said. “You have still got to bring it. I know that Citi Field can be crazy and you go to a different park and it can be dead, maybe on a Monday night, so that’s a mental challenge to execute in that situation against hitters you have no idea against.”

Scherzer remains on a five-day schedule and will receive an extra day off before the Mets begin their regularseason rotation. That would put him on track for the March 30 season opener in Miami, but manager Buck Showalter hasn’t officially tabbed him as the Opening Day starter.

Showalter watched a portion of Scherzer’s outing before the game on the main field started and joked that he was going to present to the right-hander a ball that one of the minor leaguers hit for a home run against him.

➤ Bryce Montes de Oca has been prescribed rest, according to a source, after imaging revealed a stress reaction — but no ligament damage — in his forearm/ elbow. The hard-throwing reliever departed Sunday’s game with discomfort in the forearm.

➤ Starling Marte was “fine,” according to Showalter after getting drilled by a fastball in the left ear flap a day earlier. Team officials checked on Marte throughout the night to ensure he wasn’t dealing with concussion symptoms. Marte was originally scheduled to play Tuesday, but Showalter said he will take a waitand-see approach with the veteran outfielder. Showalter said he received a call from Rays manager Kevin Cash to check on Marte and appreciated the gesture.

➤ Kodai Senga played catch and is scheduled for a normal workday on Tuesday. The right-hander was scratched from his last start because of tendinitis at the base of his right index finger — an ailment Senga said stems from adjusting to the ball in the U.S.