Nationals manager Dave Martinez said today that Max Scherzer will get the start in Tuesday’s National League Wild Card Game, which will take place against either the Brewers or Cardinals in a city yet to be determined. Martinez said that Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin are available in relief as it will, obviously, be an all-hands-on-deck affair in this single elimination contest.
Scherzer spent some time on the injured list this year and has posted a 4.81 ERA in the second half. He’s had a particularly rough September, allowing 17 runs in 29.2 innings across five starts. He’s been having trouble locating his fastball, he has said, and has simply been more hittable than usual.
Still, when he first came off the injured list in July, Dave Martinez set him up on a schedule that would have him pitch in the Wild Card game if necessary. There has never been any doubt in his manager’s mind that Scherzer is the horse he wants to ride in a one-and-done scenario. We’ll find out Tuesday if that was the right call.