New York Mets ace Max Scherzer had to be scratched from his start on Tuesday after he reported some neck discomfort.
It’s yet another injury for the veteran, a three-time Cy Young award winner.
He had some shoulder issues in mid-April and two separate injury list stints last year with oblique strains, not to mention having to miss 10 games this year due to a suspension.
The pitcher himself told reporters this week that the plan is for him to return sometime while the Mets face Scherzer’s former team, the Washington Nationals, from Friday to Monday.
It’s a four-game set.
However, and according to Mets insider Tim Healey, today’s throwing session didn’t go too well for the 38-year-old.
“Max Scherzer tried to play catch just now but it didn’t last long or go well. His neck is still ‘in spasm,’ as he put it. But he feels better today than he did yesterday. ‘It hasn’t fully let go yet,’ he said. The Mets plan to slot him in during the Nationals series,” Healey tweeted.
Max Scherzer tried to play catch just now but it didn't last long or go well. His neck is still "in spasm," as he put it. But he feels better today than he did yesterday.
"It hasn't fully let go yet," he said.
The Mets plan to slot him in during the Nationals series.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) May 10, 2023
That plan to have him return against the Nats is obviously contingent on the pitcher being pain-free.
That is clearly not the case at the moment.
Scherzer will likely try again tomorrow or the day after that, but if playing catch is giving him problems, imagine having to pitch at max effort.
Perhaps a short stint on the injured list will be in order, although the team hasn’t said anything.
For now, take those plans to return in just a couple of days with a grain of salt.
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