Max Scherzer named National League All-Star

In one of the worst-kept secrets ever, Max Scherzer will join Bryce Harper at next Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. Despite leading the National League East by 4 1/2 games, only Harper and Scherzer have been chosen to represent the Nationals at the Midsummer Classic.

Scherzer has been arguably the game's most dominating pitcher through the first half of the season. He was named the NL Pitcher of the Month in May and June. The high point game when Scherzer tossed his first career no-hitter on June 20 against Pirates. The historic game followed a one-hit shutout Scherzer spun against the Brewers. Between Carlos Gomez's broken bloop single in the seventh inning in Milwaukee, Scherzer faced 54 batters before allowing his next hit to the Phillies' Freddy Galvis 12 days later.

Over the three-game stretch, Scherzer went 3-0 with a 0.69 ERA while striking out 33 and walking just one.

"It's awesome," Scherzer said. "It's one of the highest honors in the game to be selected to play in an All-Star Game and this is my third game, so every single one of them means something different, and this one's very special."

Scherzer has appeared in the All-Star Game the last two seasons, starting for the American League in 2013.

"You're celebrating with the other top players in the league," Scherzer said. "Guys who are having great seasons. And having fun with everybody. It's an absolute awesome event and I wish every player got to experience it."

Scherzer's 1.82 ERA is second-best in the majors while his 9.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio leads all big league pitchers.

The potential exists that Scherzer won't pitch in the All-Star Game. Because of Stephen Strasburg's trip to the 15-day disabled list, it's possible that Nationals manager Matt Williams will start Scherzer on Sunday in Baltimore.

"Our process is that we want to win baseball games," Williams said. "We'll see how he comes out of tomorrow (against the Reds), and where it's at and what we can do going forward, given the off-day. Like we talked about, there's a lot of factors there. By the off-day, we'll have that determination made."

Note: Tonight's game has been delayed by rain in the bottom of the first inning with no score. The game is expected to resume at approximately 7:45 p.m.