After being ruled out from another start earlier in the week, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer might finally be progressing towards a return to the mound.
Washington’s skipper Davey Martinez announced that the team’s ace threw off flat ground on Friday and could throw a bullpen session on Saturday if he reports no issues with his back in the morning.
Scherzer missed nearly three weeks with a troublesome back injury that saw him make one start on July 25 before returning to the injured list. The 35-year-old has made just one start since the All-Star Break.
A three-time Cy Young recipient, Scherzer will need to return to the mound soon if he wants to compete for his fourth Cy Young award. He owns a 2.41 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and has struck out 189 batters this season over 134.1 innings.
Given the Nationals are in the thick of a playoff hunt, exercising caution to ensure Scherzer is ready for the stretch run is the best decision for the organization.