According to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, reigning Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer is still unable to throw a fastball pain free.
Scherzer was originally slated to pitch in the World Baseball Classic for the USA, but he was forced to withdraw due to the pain from the stress fracture in the ring finger of his pitching hand. While the fracture has healed to the point that Scherzer is now able to throw his secondary pitches in bullpen sessions, he is still unable to use his fastball grip.
While the Nationals hope he will be ready for Opening Day, the team readily admits he is behind the other starters. As pitching coach Mike Maddux stated, “We do have the extra week this year to pace ourselves, needless to say. So Max, if all goes well, he’ll be maybe a start or two behind the other guys.”
Any delay in Scherzer’s availability during the 2017 will be a huge blow to the Nationals in what promises to be a tight National League East race. Certainly, he has established himself not just as the team’s best, but also their most durable starter.
With his health and ability to throw his fastball in doubt, the Mets chances of winning the division may have just gotten better.
