L.A. win means Scherzer will start Sunday finale (Nats up 9-2)

DENVER - Max Scherzer will make one more start in 2018 after all.

The Dodgers' victory in San Francisco this afternoon prevented the Rockies from having a chance to clinch the National League West title tonight, making Sunday's regular season finale meaningful. And that means Scherzer will take the mound for the Nationals one last time this season.

Scherzer and the Nats had decided earlier this week he would pitch if the Rockies were still playing for something, out of respect for the Dodgers and the integrity of the division race. And when Los Angeles won 10-6 at AT&T Park to move to within 1/2-game of Colorado, it guaranteed that race would extend until at least Game 162.

Scherzer last pitched Tuesday against the Marlins, striking out 10 over seven innings to reach the 300-strikeout mark for the first time in his career. He'll enter this final outing with an 18-7 record and 2.53 ERA in 33 starts totaling 220 2/3 innings.

The odds of Scherzer topping Mets ace Jacob deGrom (10-9 with a 1.70 ERA and 23 consecutive quality starts) for the Cy Young Award are probably slim at this point, but he'll have a chance to make one final impression on voters and anyone else who has followed that compelling race all season.

Update: The Nationals are putting a serious dent into the Rockies' celebration plans. They lead 6-1 after five innings tonight, knocking out starter Jon Gray after only two innings. Trea Turner launched his 19th homer of the season. Juan Soto launched his 22nd homer of the season (tied with Bryce Harper for second-most ever by a teenager in MLB history) and added a two-run double to give him three RBIs in the game. Stephen Strasburg allowed a solo homer to Carlos Gonzalez in the bottom of the second, but he has retired 12 of the last 13 batters he's faced and is through five innings on 86 pitches.

Update II: The Nats aren't letting up. They added three more runs in the top of the seventh, getting two-out RBI hits from Wilmer Difo and Michael A. Taylor to extend their lead to 9-2. Strasburg gave up a solo homer to Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the sixth but finished strong, going six innings on 102 pitches to wrap up his season.