Scherzer will start wild card game, Strasburg and Corbin in 'pen

The decision was made a few days ago. And to hear Davey Martinez talk about it, it wasn't that tough of a decision: Max Scherzer will start Tuesday night's National League wild card game.

Martinez delivered the news to his ace a few days ago, and his reaction was probably what you assume it was.

"I can't exactly say what he said to me, but he was excited," Martinez said with a laugh. "He's ready."

Though Scherzer will be on the mound to start the winner-take-all game against either the Brewers or Cardinals, Martinez will have his two other top starters available to him out of the bullpen. Both Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin will be on the wild card roster and could pitch in relief to help bridge the gap to the back end of the Nationals' still suspect bullpen.

"I feel fortunate to have Max Scherzer, but also Strasburg and Corbin," Martinez said. "I talked to both of them. They'll both be out of the pen that day. So all hands will be on deck."

There was some thought Strasburg could swoop in and get the start over Scherzer after going 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and a career-high 251 strikeouts over a league-high 209 innings. Scherzer, meanwhile, made only 27 starts (his lowest total since he was a rookie in 2009) and missed a good chunk of the summer with a recurring back strain.

In seven starts since returning from the injured list, Scherzer is 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA and eight homers allowed in 38 innings. But his last two outings were marred by some surprise homers (one apiece by the Cardinals' Tommy Edman and Matt Wieters, two by the Phillies' Brad Miller) that overshadowed otherwise impressive performances in which he struck out 21 batters while walking only one.

Asked if he based his decision to start Scherzer on recent performance or the bigger picture, Martinez said: "I base it on the bigger picture. Obviously, he feels good and he's ready."

Scherzer, who is 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.027 WHIP for the season as a whole, will be making his 14th career postseason start, his 17th career October appearance. He's pitched in two winner-take-all games for the Nationals, allowing one run (on a Joc Pederson homer) in six-plus innings of Game 5 of the 2016 NL Division Series and four runs (two earned) during one harrowing inning of relief in Game 5 of the 2017 NLDS that included mishaps by several others.

Martinez said his ideal scenario for this wild card game involved "seven-plus" innings from Scherzer, but he won't hesitate to turn to Strasburg or Corbin out of the bullpen if necessary, even if that affects their status for a potential NLDS showdown with the Dodgers if they're victorious.

The manager said Strasburg was more than open to making the first relief appearance of his career if asked.

"He was all-in on what his role is going to be for that day," Martinez said. "He said: 'Whatever it takes for the team, I'm in.' He brought it up: 'It's 1-0 time, so let's win Tuesday.' And I told him if, in fact, we don't need you, be ready to pitch Game 1 or Game 2 (of the NLDS). That's what it's going to be. But he's prepared to pitch Tuesday."

Asked after he started and won Thursday's game against the Phillies if he's willing to pitch in relief, Strasburg replied: "Yeah, I mean I'm just here to help the ballclub in any way possible. It's going to take all 25 of us."

With Scherzer being pushed to Tuesday, the Nationals will now start Joe Ross in Sunday's regular season finale against the Indians, a game they could still need to win to lock up home field advantage.