WASHINGTON — After Max Scherzer was scratched from starting Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night due to a nerve problem on the right side of his neck, the right-hander was hoping the information he received from doctors was correct and that he could return to the World Series mound.
Scherzer said the discomfort in the area surfaced a couple of days ago as spasms and believed the treatment he received Saturday would allow him to start Sunday night against the Astros at Nationals Park with the best-of-seven series tied, 2-2.
Instead, he needed help to get out of bed and knew he couldn’t take the ball in a pivotal World Series game. Right-hander Joe Ross took Scherzer’s start.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez is hopeful Scherzer, who received a cortisone shot Sunday, can be available out of the bullpen for Game 6 Tuesday when the action shifts to Houston or start Game 7, if it’s necessary.
“Yeah, that’s what the doctors believe, with this nerve irritation, that they think, with the cortisone shot in there, that the neck can take — and 48 hours really helps decide the pain that’s being alleviated — alleviate the pain from that neck nerve that’s in my neck right now that’s all pinched up,’’ Scherzer said before Game 5. “So, for me, I’m just hoping that the doctors are right and that something could be possible for Game 7.
“It was one of the things that was on the table [Saturday]. We didn’t want to go down that route and take the injection [Saturday] because we thought we found a way to be able to maintain everything [Saturday] that potentially make the start [Sunday]. And unfortunately, everything that we did [Saturday] just made kind of — I woke up this morning completely locked up, I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t even dress myself.’’
Recent history with pitchers who have to be scratched or leave a start early isn’t good for their teams. The Braves’ Tom Glavine was scratched from Game 1 of the 1999 World Series with the flu and the Yankees won in four. Yankees lefty starter David Wells exited Game 5 of the 2003 World Series against the Marlins after one inning due to a lower back issue. The Marlins won that and Game 6 to win the World Series.
Scherzer is known for pitching through injuries, but this was impossible.
“That would be the dangers of pitching [Game 5] was that something seriously, seriously could go wrong. But at the same time, I can’t pick up my arm right now. So I can’t pitch,’’ Scherzer said.
No disrespect to Ross, a 26-year-old right-hander who appeared in 27 regular-season games and one postseason game, but he isn’t in Scherzer’s class because very few are. Scherzer is a seven-time All Star, has won three Cy Young awards and has 21 postseason appearances, which include 17 starts.
Of Ross’ 27 regular-season appearances, nine were starts. From Aug. 2 to Sept.29, he was used exclusively as a starter and went 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA. The Nationals went 7-1 in those starts.
Ross’ only career postseason appearance this year was a two-inning stint in Game 3 of the World Series when he provided two shutout innings and one hit in a 4-1 loss.
Because teams can drop injured players from the World Series’ roster and replace them, Martinez was asked if Scherzer would remain on the Nationals’ roster.
“Absolutely, yeah. We’re going to keep him on the roster. If this gets better in the next 24 to 48 hours, being that we have a day off [Monday], hopefully he’ll be available to pitch one of those two games,’’ Martinez said.
And what if Scherzer is fit enough to pitch Game 6? Could he start instead of Stephen Strasburg who would then be available to start Game 7 if the Series gets to a final game?
“As of right now, I mean, I would leave Stephen starting Game 6 and if need be, depending on where we’re at, if Max could come in out of relief, he comes in. If we go to Game 7, Max starts Game 7,’’ Martinez said.