Scherzer out after one labored inning with apparent injury

Max Scherzer threw 112 pitches in his last start, most by any major leaguer so far in 2020. Tonight, the Nationals ace threw only 27 pitches before departing with what appears to be a physical ailment.

Scherzer was pulled after one laborious inning against the Mets, unexpectedly replaced by Erick Fedde in the top of the second.

The Nationals didn't immediately announce a reason for Scherzer's departure, but he could be seen talking to a trainer in the dugout after his one inning of work. Fedde began warming up in the bullpen right away and didn't need extra time to proclaim himself ready after he took the mound for the top of the second.

Scherzer didn't look entirely right during his abbreviated outing. He walked Mets leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo on five pitches to open the game. His fastball velocity was down several ticks at 92-94 mph. He didn't appear to be throwing with his typical max effort.

Despite all that, the three-time Cy Young Award winner made it through the 27-pitch, 14-strike frame with only one run crossing the plate. Following the Nimmo walk, he allowed a single to Michael Conforto. But he retired the Mets' next three hitters, including a strikeout of slugger Pete Alonso on a 94-mph fastball.

Scherzer hadn't dealt with any known physical ailments since summer training began five weeks ago, but he spent a large chunk of the 2019 season battling an upper back strain and also was scratched from his Game 5 start in the World Series after suffering from neck spasms. (He memorably returned three nights later to pitch five innings in Game 7.)

The Nationals already have been trying to make it through the first several weeks of this shortened season with a diminished rotation. Stephen Strasburg was scratched from his first scheduled start of the year with what he described as a nerve impingement in his right wrist. The veteran right-hander threw a planned, 45-50-pitch simulated game this afternoon and could rejoin the Nats rotation early next week against the Mets.

The club also is without its projected No. 5 starter, Joe Ross, who opted out of the 2020 season.