Scherzer says he's good to go for 100 pitches in Game 3

CHICAGO - Max Scherzer made his way out to the right field grass at Wrigley Field, set up shop 60 feet away from bullpen catcher Octavio Martinez and proceeded to throw a baseball off flat ground for the next 10-15 minutes, just like he would any other day before he starts a game.

When he was done, Scherzer gave Martinez a high five, then started skipping around the outfield. OK, that was actually part of his regular exercise routine, but the image nonetheless conveyed what everyone here with the Nationals and everyone following them back home in D.C. has been hoping to hear: Scherzer's hamstring is fine, and all systems are go for his start in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Cubs.

"We've done everything we can to make sure that I can throw 100 pitches and not have this happen," the right-hander said. "When I get on the mound tomorrow, I'm fully anticipating being able to throw 100 pitches."

The 100-pitch mark would actually be a bit lower than Scherzer normally would target for a start of this magnitude. He twice threw more than 112 pitches in mid-September starts in an effort to prepare himself for the workload he expected to face in October, but that's before he tweaked his right hamstring in his final regular season outing.

Ever since that abbreviated appearance against the Pirates, Scherzer and the Nationals have needed to alter their plans. They hoped he'd be ready to start Game 1 of the NLDS, but he couldn't get on a bullpen mound in time to adequately prepare for that. So they shot for Game 2, only to push it back again in a cautious attempt to give his leg more time to respond to treatment.

Scherzer has passed every test since, throwing off flat ground three times and throwing off the bullpen mound once. But he has acknowledged all along that the discomfort in his leg only comes when he drives off the mound to deliver a pitch at full velocity, and does so repeatedly for a full start.

So there's really nothing else the Nationals can do to assure themselves Scherzer will be fine, except to hand him the ball Monday afternoon - first pitch is officially at 4:08 p.m. EDT, thanks to the Red Sox's win over the Astros earlier today - and then hope for the best and hope that the ace accurately conveys how he feels throughout the process.

"Right now, I'm not worried about it," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "I think we're still touch and go, the parental instincts kick in. But we can only go with what he tells us communication-wise. But it's always been top-shelf communication."

What, then, would be a cause for concern? What are those in the Nationals dugout going to be on the lookout for?

"I'm going to be looking for any difference of change of arm angles, or if he winces or whatever," manager Dusty Baker said. "There are a lot of guys that are pitching hurt right now, you know. There's a difference between being injured and hurt. And ... if you don't have something wrong with you, then you haven't played. You haven't pitched. It's almost impossible to go a whole year and nothing be wrong with you."

Suffice it to say, Scherzer won't be 100 percent when he takes the mound. But even had he not suffered the hamstring tweak, he wouldn't have been 100 percent. He dealt with a neck injury that affected two of his starts in August. He took a line drive off his left calf in early September and departed a few innings later. Such is life for a pitcher at this late stage of the season.

All the Nationals care about at this point is the fact the reigning (and possibly repeat) league Cy Young Award winner is going to be starting a pivotal postseason game, the winner of which will be one step away from advancing to the National League Championship Series.

"It's huge," shortstop Trea Turner said. "You always want your ace to pitch as much as you can. I feel like we've got an unbelievable pitching staff. But to have him go this next game is going to be big for us."

Maybe it's not the exact scenario Scherzer or the Nationals envisioned all along. But it's the reality of the situation. And now it's time to find out just how he performs in his latest gig on the big stage.

"Look, this little ailment, I needed a couple extra days to get this right," Scherzer said. "I feel I've done everything I can to put the strength in the leg that I need to, and I feel like I'm good to go.

"Hey, we're in the playoffs. Every game is a must-win. This is going to be a crazy atmosphere here at Wrigley. I can't wait to toe the rubber."