After losing three straight at home, the Washington Nationals are playing in a do-or-die Game Six with the Houston Astros in the World Series. If starter Stephen Strasburg can pull out a victory, the Nationals have been dealt good news for a potential Game Seven.
The team’s de facto ace and future Hall of Famer, Max Scherzer, would start.
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"Whatever the team needs."
Nationals ace Max Scherzer joined Tom Verducci to talk about his injury and availability for the rest of this World Series: pic.twitter.com/48L1STU0lI
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2019
A devastated Scherzer was pulled from his original start in Game Five after having neck spasms. “I can’t pick up my arm right now so I can’t pitch,” he said. “I’m as disappointed as I could possibly be.”
Scherzer received a Cortisone injection in his right trapezoid. Doctors told him the shot would require 48 hours to alleviate the pain.
“I’m just hoping that the doctors are right and that something could be possible for Game Seven,” Scherzer said then.
Tuesday, Scherzer learned everything was possible again. When Scherzer took the field at Minute Maid Park, he was able to play catch and do his standard long toss. He was captured pumping his fist after he finished. Scherzer told reporters as he left the field, “I’m good.”
Max Scherzer just threw in outfield. Told reporters afterward, “I’m good.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 29, 2019
“All I know is that the Cortisone shot worked,” Scherzer said. “It kind of helped relieve the impingement that was in my neck and then I was able to get the chiropractor work to kind of really free everything up. So I felt back to almost normal. I was able to play catch today. So for me, whatever the team needs (I’ll do).”
Scherzer was asked what the last three days have been mentally and physically.
“I thought there was going to be a path for me to pitch Game Five, but when I woke up, I didn’t think I let the team down because there was literally no way I could raise my arm above my head,” Scherzer said. “I was just in no way able to pitch. But hey, that’s the way the playoffs go sometimes. There’s unexpected turns and sometimes other people have to step up and do their jobs. That’s what makes it so much fun. The team we have, we have that type of group and that type of mentality, whoever’s number’s going to be called that person somebody’s going to go out there and do their job.”
Ahead of Game Six, Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced that Scherzer would indeed start.
JUST IN – Davey Martinez says Max Scherzer would start a potential Game 7. pic.twitter.com/WEUB6ox7aR
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) October 29, 2019
That is if the Nationals can force another Scherzday.
