The Mets are hopeful Max Scherzer literal pain in the neck won’t turn into a figurative one for the team. Here’s why Max Scherzer pulled out .
Max scherzer scratched from start with neck spasms
The Mets announced starting pitcher Max Scherzer has been scratched from his scheduled Tuesday start against the Reds with neck spasms.
The team has recalled David Peterson from Triple A Syracuse to make the start, while placing pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis on the injured list to make room.
Scherzer has had a tough start to the season, recording a 5.56 ERA in his first five starts this year. Since Opening Day, he also has been suspended by MLB for getting caught with a sticky substance and endured a back injury that delayed a start earlier in the season.
He was off to a strong start against his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in his next start before he was ejected from the contest after three innings when umpires suspected he was using an illegal substance to get a better grip on the ball. Scherzer received a 10-game suspension for his actions.
Scherzer returned Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers but allowed six earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings.
It has been an uncharacteristic start to the season for Scherzer, who posted a 2.29 ERA over 145 1/3 innings last season.
Scherzer, 38, put up exceptional numbers during his six-and-a-half-year run with the Washington Nationals from 2015 to 2021.
His numbers have been strong since leaving Washington as well, though injuries limited his innings in 2021 and 2022.
It’s unclear how long Scherzer will be sidelined due to this neck issue.