Max Scherzer to host fantasy football draft, launch Big League Impact DC

Are you ready for some football?

While the Nationals have 44 baseball games left to play, pitcher Max Scherzer and some of his teammates are preparing for the upcoming National Football League season like the rest of us by holding a fantasy football draft. But this isn't just for a cash prize, a little trophy or bragging rights among friends. This type of fantasy football has a much bigger impact.

Scherzer has joined Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright's Big League Impact charity to launch Big League Impact DC, and his first event allows you to play fantasy football with your favorite Nats.

On Saturday, Aug. 22 at Nationals Park, Scherzer will host a fantasy football draft that will allow participants to join leagues for this upcoming NFL season with the Nats ace or teammates like Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmermann, Denard Span and Matt Thornton. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and the Big League Impact Global Fund.

"I am excited to bring Big League Impact to Washington, D.C., to help raise funds for three incredible charities," Scherzer said. "This is a great chance for our fans to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with some of their favorite Nationals players."

Participants in the fundraiser will not only enjoy the live draft with the Nationals players, but also VIP access to batting practice, party suite tickets for the Nationals' game against the Brewers that night and photos for each league with their Nats player. And although the baseball season ends in October, participating in these fantasy football leagues also allows weekly interaction and competition with their Nats player throughout the 2015 NFL season.

"We are thrilled that Max Scherzer is helping to support our work and the work of the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy through this partnership with Big League Impact," said Washington Nationals principal owner and Washington Nationals Dream Foundation chair Marla Lerner Tanenbaum in a statement. "We so appreciate Max's enthusiasm for our work."

Big League Impact raises money for local and worldwide charities through the contributions received from the participants in fantasy football leagues. Along with Scherzer here in D.C. and Wainwright in St. Louis, other Big League Impact hosts include Skip Schumaker in Cincinnati, David Wright in New York, John Smoltz in Atlanta, Kyle Gibson in Minnesota and Hunter Pence in San Francisco.

For more information about Max Scherzer's Big League Impact DC, visit BigLeagueImpact.org/Washington-DC.

Hey #fantasyfootballers: Raise money and awareness for #Nats charities by joining my league! http://t.co/ZLyJSItkKZ https://t.co/xxs38LG4tE

-- Max Scherzer (@Max_Scherzer) July 22, 2015