Max Scherzer, one of baseball's most durable pitchers, is headed to the injured list.
The Nationals on Monday put their ace on the 10-day IL with what they called a "mild rhomboid strain" a day after he skipped his bullpen session ahead of a scheduled Tuesday start against the Braves.
We've recalled RHP Erick Fedde from Double-A Harrisburg and placed RHP Max Scherzer on the 10-Day IL (retroactive to July 26) with a mild rhomboid strain.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2019
🔗 // https://t.co/c5u7kmx2VH pic.twitter.com/d91lX1Nxih
Scherzer has been dealing with muscle tightness in his upper back and shoulder that kept him from pitching in the All-Star Game and forced him to miss his second start out of the break earlier this month. He also had an MRI exam on his back this month, but it came back negative.
Manager Dave Martinez had told reporters Sunday that it was "very doubtful" Scherzer would start Tuesday, but he said he's more focused on ensuring the pitcher's long-term health.
“I want to make sure that he’s 100 percent,” Martinez said, via MLB.com. “We need Max to be 100 percent to get us through the next few months. Regardless of how, he’s got to prove to us that he is that.”
Scherzer, who turned 35 on Saturday, is 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA in 20 games (134 1/3 innings) this season and leads the National League in strikeouts (189).
He has pitched at least 200 innings in each of the last six seasons, leading the majors with 220 2/3 last year.
The Nationals recalled right-hander Erick Fedde from Double-A Harrisburg to take Scherzer's roster spot.