Max Scherzer, one of the co-aces of the Mets, will not start Sunday against the Oakland Athletics due to lingering back soreness. This creates a change in pitching plans, with Jose Butto taking over for the series finale. Scherzer announced that an MRI exam revealed that the pain was caused by his right scapula area, and said he had no serious issues. He had dealt with this ailment while playing for the Nationals in 2019. This temporarily bumps his schedule back to Wednesday against the Dodgers.
The Mets had initially planned to introduce a sixth starter into the rotation, so Scherzer gets extra days to rest his back. As Scherzer admitted, the best course of action was to give it a little rest as it would go away. He pitched three games this season, recording 4.41 ERA, and his latest start earned him five shutout innings against the Padres. However, he required 97 pitches to accomplish this feat, which ultimately led to his back discomfort.
During his previous season, Scherzer had to take breaks twice due to oblique issues. Therefore, it is important that the Mets take him seriously and manage his fatigue in a timely and appropriate manner. On the other hand, Justin Verlander, the second ace of the Mets, is still recovering from a strained teres major muscle near his right armpit, and it’s unclear when he will make his debut for the season.
The team manager Buck Showalter inserted an extra starter in the rotation, largely to provide Kodai Senga an extra day of rest between his starts. However, it is uncertain which day the extra starter will pitch. Scherzer acknowledged that he is trending in the right direction with his back, but it’s not yet fully healed. As a result, it wouldn’t be the best idea to risk anything with him by allowing him to play prematurely, especially with an open spot for another starter deferring his initial appearance.
In conclusion, it’s important for the Mets coaching staff to monitor their pitchers’ health to avoid setbacks that could compromise their season’s success. Scherzer’s issue still needs attention and management, especially after his injury-plagued previous year.
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