With clinch completed, Nats must choose wild card starter

For nearly six months, the Nationals couldn't afford to look beyond that night's game, recognizing the importance of winning every single contest to get back into a race after a 19-31 start left them staring up at a sizeable deficit in the standings.

Now that they've clinched a postseason berth, they can finally afford to start thinking more about what's ahead next week than what's in front of them tonight.

The Nationals are going to play Tuesday night in the National League wild card game, most likely against the Brewers, who can punch their postseason ticket tonight. Now they just have to figure out who they'll put on the field, on the mound, on the bench and in the bullpen for that winner-take-all showdown.

The most significant question, of course, is the identity of the wild card game starter. Manager Davey Martinez remains noncommittal, but before Tuesday's doubleheader he offered his strongest hint to date that Max Scherzer will get the ball.

"If you look at the schedule right now, that's Max's day," Martinez said. "And he's one of the best."

Scherzer gave up four runs in six innings in Tuesday's clincher - all four runs scored on a pair of Brad Miller homers - but struck out 10 while walking only one. The right-hander was adamant afterward that he feels like he's all the way back physically from his midsummer back injury and is ready for the assignment.

There's a valid argument for Stephen Strasburg, though. The 30-year-old right-hander has been the club's most consistent (and healthiest) starter all season, surpassing the 200-inning mark for only the second time in his career. He has a 2.50 ERA and miniscule .551 opponent OPS over his last nine starts. And he's allowed only one earned run in 19 career postseason innings.

"He's a beast in the NL," Martinez said today. "He's one of the guys. He's had a tremendous year. And he's one of the reasons why we're going to play in the postseason."

Scherzer, meanwhile, made his first extended trip to the injured list this season. In seven starts since returning to the active roster, he has a 4.74 ERA and .751 opponents' OPS. That said, the ace has surpassed the 100-pitch mark in each of his last two outings, striking out a total of 21 batters while walking only one.

There's also still the question about Sunday's regular season finale against the Indians. Scherzer could make that start on regular rest, particularly if the team has a chance to clinch home field advantage. If that's not up for grabs, or if it's not a top priority, he could be saved for Tuesday's wild card game.

"I've had conversations with both (Scherzer and Strasburg)," Martinez said. "Actually, all four starters we have, I've talked to them about what we're going to do. Nothing definitive, because we still hopefully try to play at home. I'd like to play at home. It would be nice to play in front of our own fans here. I think it would be exciting."

Martinez has also hinted more than once that he intends to keep all four of his top starters on the wild card roster and may plan to use several of them in that game instead of less-accomplished members of their bullpen. He said the four starters have been receptive to the idea.

"No doubt. They're all in," he said. "Every one of those was like: They'll do whatever."