Scherzer getting extra rest, to start Sunday
Nationals' ace has pitched at least six innings in all but one start
WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Max Scherzer is everything the Nationals expected and then some. Besides being the ace of the staff, Scherzer leads the club in almost every pitching category.
So why didn't Scherzer pitch the first game of the second half on Friday against the Dodgers? Scherzer is set to pitch against Los Angeles on Sunday, which means he'll miss the three-game series vs. the second-place Mets and instead face the Pirates.
Manager Matt Williams said he is taking into consideration that Scherzer had a heavy workload during the first half. Scherzer threw three complete games and, with the exception of one outing, he has gone at least six innings in each of his starts.
"His workload has been immense as compared to what he is used to," Williams said. "Certainly, pitch counts are one thing, but his innings are different. The fact that he pitched the last game [of the first half] and he went into the ninth inning came as a factor. … I have to look at it long term, as we all do, and look at the next 31 days and see how much rest he is going to get, which will be virtually none. This will be the only opportunity to give him a couple of extra days."