Expect to see Scherzer on Sunday if game matters
In reading the tea leaves, it appears Washington ace and Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer will pitch against the Rockies on Sunday at Coors Field if the game has postseason implications.
“I’ve had that conversation with (Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo), and if there’s an elimination game or something of that nature, he wants me to pitch,” Scherzer said from Coors Field Friday. “For me, the way I look at it is now would be an opportunity to have a playoff atmosphere here against the Rockies. Why not compete in that situation? If that situation arises, I want to be in there.”
That competitive sentiment comes even as Scherzer (187, 2.53 ERA) acknowledged that he’d be okay if the Nationals decided to sit him. Washington manager Dave Martinez wouldn’t commit to whether or not the righthander would take the hill in the season finale.
“We’ll see how things play out,” Martinez said before Friday’s game. “Today, we’re concerned about winning today.”
In addition to reaching 300 strikeouts this season, Scherzer cited the milestones of 33 starts and 220plus innings pitched as potential reasons to not pitch. But he also understands “there’s an integrityofthegame component to this as well.”
Washington announced Stephen Strasburg as its starter Saturday night, and even though the 30yearold has scuffled since returning from the disabled list Aug. 22, that means Colorado could have to go through a pair of pitchers with ace stuff in order to clinch the NL West.
Colorado wouldn’t expect the sledding to be easy in the final days of its pursuit of a first National League West crown.
“That’s the way the road has gone for us this year — it’s been a tough road,” third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “To get to where we want and need to go, we’ll have to face the best, and we’re going to be ready. We’re going to relish the moment. We understand it’s not going to be easy.”
The Rockies tagged Strasburg for four runs in his lone start against them this season, a Colorado win in D.C. on April 15. Meanwhile, Scherzer’s only outing against Colorado in 2018 came the day before, when he allowed two runs in seven innings while striking out 11 in a Nationals’ victory.
“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “That’s always been my mantra.”
Footnotes.
Pitcher Jon Gray said he’s not feeling any nerves heading into his showdown against Strasburg on Saturday night, noting the various difficulties he’s endured this season (a midsummer demotion to TripleA and having a recent start skipped). Those trials lead him to believe his karma will turn as it did in his seveninning, onerun outing against the Phillies on Monday night. “This season was a tough one for me, but I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me,” Gray said… The righthander also noted he’ll be slicking his long hair with water again, as he did prior to taking the mound against Philadelphia, in order to “go for the nasty look — like I’ve pitched 13 innings coming in.”… Lefthander Tyler Anderson threw a 30pitch bullpen on Friday, and said he didn’t feel any of the shoulder tightness that caused him to miss his start on Monday. “I feel good to go,” Anderson said. “Now, we just have to see what Buddy wants to do.”