Scherzer breaks nose, status for next start TBD (game postponed)

Max Scherzer suffered a broken nose earlier today on an errant bunt attempt during batting practice, and his status for Wednesday's scheduled start against the Phillies is to be determined, the Nationals announced this evening.

Scherzer was taking BP on the field this afternoon when he bunted a ball that caromed up and struck him in the face. The right-hander returned to the clubhouse alongside director of athletic training Paul Lessard, with blood visible around his nose, and retreated to the training room for treatment.

An initial exam left Scherzer and the Nationals believing the right-hander's nose was broken, but he was sent off-site to be examined by a doctor, who then confirmed the break. The Nats said Scherzer underwent a CT scan, which came back negative.

Scherzer has been slated to start one game of Wednesday's doubleheader on his normal turn in the rotation, though the Nationals hadn't decided this afternoon whether he'd take the mound for the 1:05 p.m. opener or the 7:05 p.m. nightcap.

Now it's unclear whether Scherzer will pitch at all, though that could be a reflection not of his new injury but of the weather forecast. Monday night's scheduled series opener was postponed due to rain, tonight's game has been delayed (and could be postponed as well) and Wednesday's forecast is no better.

If the Nationals are able to play only one game, they could elect to start Erick Fedde (who originally was tonight's scheduled starter) or right-hander Austin Voth (who is likely headed to Washington from Triple-A Fresno to serve as the 26th man for the doubleheader).

If the Nationals are able to play both games Wednesday, Scherzer could conceivably start one of them, or the team could go with Fedde and Voth and push its ace back to a later date.

"We have to get through tonight first before we decide anything," manager Davey Martinez said this afternoon.

Scherzer has spent only 20 total days on the injured list during his career. He missed the first 10 days of the 2009 season with the Diamondbacks due to a sore right shoulder, and he missed 10 days in August 2017 with the Nationals due to inflammation in his neck.

Update: For the second straight night, the Nationals and Phillies have been postponed. They waited out a two-hour delay tonight before calling things off, with no end to the rain in sight. With a day-night doubleheader already scheduled for Wednesday before Thursday's series finale, this game will now be made up as part of a Sept. 24 day-night doubleheader, with the opener at 1:05 p.m. and the nightcap at 7:05 p.m. That means these two teams will be playing a five-games-in-four-days series during the final week of the season. That either could be epic, or it could be the polar opposite of epic, depending on the NL East standings at that point.

The Nats announced Patrick Corbin will start Wednesday's 1:05 p.m. game (weather permitting). They're leaving the 7:05 p.m. starter as "TBD," but they could go with Fedde, Voth or possibly even Scherzer if he feels well enough to pitch.

WATCH - Max Scherzer, who's scheduled to start Wednesday, was hit in the face by a ball during batting practice.

Details: https://t.co/sNoPv3co00 pic.twitter.com/27FonlyC33

-- Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) June 18, 2019