HOUSTON — Dave Martinez understands the buzz around Max Scherzer being available to pitch in Game 7, but the Nationals’ manager knows that in order for that to happen his club has to win Game 6 on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Asked on Monday what the plan would be if Scherzer isn’t able to pitch in Game 7, Martinez wasn’t looking past Game 6.
“Right now my focus is on Game 6. We’ve got to treat that as Game 7 right now.
There won’t be a Game 7 if we can’t get a Game 6,’’ Martinez said Monday via conference call before the Nationals left Washington. “So our focus is winning [Tuesday] and go 1-0 and go from there.’’
Scherzer was scratched from Sunday’s Game 5 in Washington due to a nerve issue in the right side of his neck and spasms in the area. He was treated with a cortisone shot but was hoping to be available at some point.
As of Monday afternoon Martinez hadn’t spoken to Scherzer but was hopeful the injection and treatment had improved the situation.
“My understanding, it takes about 24 hours for this injection to really work. So we’re going to try to give it 24 hours,’’ Martinez said. “As we all know Max, he’s probably going to try to push it a little bit. But we want him to just try to let this medication kick in a little bit and then see where we’re at.’’
Should the Nationals force a Game 7 and Scherzer, who couldn’t lift his right arm on Sunday, is not available, the starting assignment would fall to Anibal Sanchez or Patrick Corbin. Sanchez gave up four runs and 10 hits in 5 ¹/₃ innings in Game 3 while Corbin allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings in Game 4.
“That all depends on how Max progresses here in the next 24-to-48 hours. So we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,’’ Martinez said.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch was asked Monday if he could see the day computers and robots call balls and strikes, which would do away with umpires.
“That’s a hot topic. This is a big stage to be talking about hot topics. I guess it’s always possible. I’m always interested in improving the game. I’m interested in advancing things that maybe we didn’t think 10 years ago that were relevant. And now all of a sudden that they are,’’ Hinch said. “I think it’s a little naive to think that simply letting computers generate strike or ball, or the safe/out part of the replay that we have, it’s incredibly naive to think that there’s not going to be pitfalls in that scenario, as well.
“Always seek to improve the game. If we can better the game, I’m all for it. And perhaps that’s an avenue that we’re going to go down someday. But I love people. I want to keep as many people in the game and in control of the game as we can.’’
Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki hasn’t played since leaving Game 3 in the sixth inning with a right hip problem and he wasn’t sure if he would be able to start Game 6.
“It feels better, obviously. I got some treatment and stuff like that, and it’s progressing. So we’ll see,’’ Suzuki said. “Going to do some stuff [Monday] and we’ll figure out more [Monday night] after we get into Houston about [Tuesday].
Everything is looking good so far.’’