Max Scherzer Still Expected to Pitch Wednesday Despite Breaking Nose in Batting Practice Accident
By Jerry Trotta
You can't teach heart, and Max Scherzer is presenting himself as a solid example of precisely this.
The Washington Nationals' ace broke his nose during a bunting drill on Tuesday after a ball deflected off his bat and into his face. He required immediate attention from Washington's training staff, and there was minor speculation that Scherzer was going to be placed on the IL. But Mad Max isn't exactly fond of days off.
MLB insider Jon Heyman has reported that the three-time Cy Young winner is planning to pitch on Wednesday for an NL East clash against the Phillies.
Hear Max Scherzer, after breaking his nose in BP yesterday, is still planning to pitch tonight vs. rival Phillies #MadMax
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 19, 2019
Yes, Scherzer technically still gets as much rest as normally required in between starts given that Tuesday's game was a rainout, but you would think he would at least take one day for that broken nose to stop swelling, right?
Max Scherzer’s nose is feared to be broken, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. Scherzer, who was hit in the face with a ball while bunting during BP, is getting further tests now to see if that will be confirmed.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) June 18, 2019
It's worth noting that Heyman's report isn't quite yet set in stone, but he, like Scherzer's availability on the mound, is as reliable as they come in baseball.
The 34-year-old has pitched to a 2.81 ERA in 2019 to go along with an NL-leading 136 strikeouts in just under 100 innings. It's understandable that he'd want to keep the momentum going.
But, if Scherzer does in fact give it a go tonight, it will just be further proof that he is one of the most compelling warriors in the game today.