Max Scherzer exits game with apparent lower-body injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Nationals were forced to pull Max Scherzer from his start Friday against the San Francisco Giants just two batters in after the right-hander experienced some apparent discomfort on his 12th pitch of the game.
Facing Giants first baseman Brandon Belt with a 2-2 count, Scherzer fired a pitch and hopped off the mound immediately upon completing his delivery. He then met with trainer Paul Lessard, throwing one warmup pitch before leaving the game. Reliever Paolo Espino replaced him to close out the inning.
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Scherzer, 36, entered the game with a 2.22 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 12 starts this season. He’s been the Nationals’ best starter in a season that’s seen Stephen Strasburg bounce on and off the Injured List while Patrick Corbin (6.21 ERA) has struggled to return to form. Scherzer is in the final season of the seven-year, $210 million contract he signed with the Nationals in 2015.
The Nationals went into the contest with a 25-33 record on the season.
