Scherzer goes on paternity leave but will start Saturday

Max Scherzer is about to add the biggest event yet to his already eventful summer.

With his wife, Erica, due to give birth to the couple's second daughter Thursday, Scherzer has been placed on the paternity leave list. The transaction allows the right-hander to take three days off to be with his growing family without missing a start, and it allows the Nationals to add an extra player (Adrián Sanchez) to their bench in the interim.

Scherzer has been anticipating this event all year, with a July 4 due date known since the offseason. The timing works out well with his pitching schedule: Scherzer started Sunday in Detroit, tossing eight innings of one-run ball while striking out 14.

His next scheduled start comes Saturday against the Royals, and manager Davey Martinez said he expects his ace to take the mound as planned for his final outing of a spectacular first half.

Scherzer was just named National League Pitcher of the Month after going 6-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 68 strikeouts and only five walks, with one of those starts coming 24 hours after he broke his nose and suffered a black eye during a pregame bunting mishap. He earned his seventh consecutive All-Star Game selection on Sunday, and he's still expected to pitch in Tuesday's Midsummer Classic in Cleveland.

The Nationals can replace Scherzer on the roster for three days, so they decided to add Sanchez and have a much-needed fifth bench player, not to mention a backup shortstop for the first time in weeks.

Trea Turner has started 42 consecutive games since returning from his fractured index finger on May 17 and played every inning at shortstop. Anthony Rendon, meanwhile, has started 51 consecutive games at third base since returning from his bruised elbow on May 7 despite dealing with an undisclosed leg injury in recent weeks.

With a quick turnaround to Thursday's 11 a.m. Independence Day game, might Martinez be tempted to give Sanchez a start and one of those two stalwarts a well-deserved day off?

"We're thinking about it," the manager said. "Our focus is definitely to worry about tonight, and then we'll see how everybody feels after the game."

Sanchez has been on a tear at Harrisburg, sporting a .330 batting average with six homers, 24 RBIs and .866 OPS in 46 games at the Double-A level. He was just named Eastern League Player of the Month.