Is the real Scherzer ready for showdown with deGrom?

The Nationals have made no secret about it all along. They know if they are ultimately going to achieve what they want to achieve this season, Max Scherzer is going to have to help lead the way.

Not the diminished version of Scherzer we've seen so far in his two starts since returning from the injured list. The full version of Scherzer. The three-time Cy Young Award winning version. The obsessed competitor version. The "I'm much better than you are" version.

But they also acknowledge they can't force that version of Scherzer to show up before he's ready to be that guy again.

He needs time to ramp himself back up after missing the better part of six weeks with an upper back injury. He simply can't afford to go for broke too soon and risk re-injuring himself just when the most critical time of year is approaching.

Here's the thing, though: They kind of need Scherzer to be his real self tonight. Because if he's not, they might just lose another game to the Mets.

In the wake of Monday's clunker on South Capitol Street, the Nationals now find themselves needing to win the next two days to win this three-game series and ensure they don't lose any more ground to the Braves. Or let the teams chasing them in the wild card race gain any more ground.

With Jacob deGrom on the mound for the Mets tonight, that's no easy challenge. Fortunately, they have Scherzer dueling against him. Unfortunately, we don't know which version of Scherzer is going to take the mound at 7:05 p.m.

The right-hander we've seen in two starts since his return from the IL was OK, not great. He gave up one run in four innings to the Pirates but needed 71 pitches to do it. He gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Orioles but needed 89 pitches to do it.

Those weren't exactly two of the most imposing lineups. The Mets pose a much more serious threat.

The good news is that Scherzer appears ready to ramp things up another notch tonight. He should be good to clear the 100-pitch mark for the first time since July 6. If he can be a bit more efficient, that should allow him to go six-plus innings, also for the first time since July 6.

The Nationals, though, will continue to be careful with their ace.

"My concern is high leverages, pitch count during innings, stuff of that nature," manager Davey Martinez said. "But he had a good week, and he says he feels good. So we will see what we got tomorrow."

On paper, a Scherzer-deGrom September showdown should be as good as it gets. This is a marquee matchup between the last three National League Cy Young Award winners, each of them still with a shot at winning this year's award.

Both teams are in the pennant race. Both teams really need this game.

The Nationals can only hope the real Scherzer - or, at least, something that more closely resembles the real Scherzer - is up for this challenge. And that he doesn't risk any future harm in the process.