New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) in the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) (Noah K. Murray, AP)
Max Scherzer is heading to the injured list, Mets manager Buck Showalter announced on Wednesday.
Showalter said tests on his star pitcher’s left oblique showed irritation on the muscle, which led the righty to exit his last start against the Nationals on Saturday after five innings and 67 pitches.
Showalter added that the eight-time All-Star will miss a start or two before returning to the rotation.
The Mets’ manager wouldn’t get into details of the specific diagnosis, but said it’s “pretty good news” that results showed no tears or significant damage.
“I think it’s best to get that completely healed again,” Showalter told reporters.
Scherzer told reporters that the injury will last for days and not weeks. He added that he was sent to the IL to make room on the roster for another pitcher to take his place.
“It just feels achy,” Scherzer told reporters when asked about his oblique. “It’s not a strain. I don’t have one specific spot I can point to where that hurts. It’s just general fatigue on the whole left side.”
Left-hander Alex Claudio was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take Scherzer’s spot.
Scherzer’s IL stint will be backdated to Sept. 4.
After Saturday’s game — an eventual 7-1 loss to the Nationals — Scherzer said he “just had to play it smart.”
A left oblique strain earlier in the season led him to miss a month and a half of game action.
The three-time Cy Young winner returned on July 5 and had a great stretch, making 12 starts and pitching to a 2.08 ERA.
The news of Scherzer’s IL stint comes as the Mets, losers of three straight to lousy opposition, open the day in a first-place tie with the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service