Max's latest 200-K milestone helps Nats roll

WASHINGTON -- Now two starts in after his return from the injured list, Max Scherzer feels like he is “not out of the woods yet” in dealing with the back and right shoulder injuries that robbed him of about six weeks of his season. On one hand, Scherzer is back on the mound and able to pitch without discomfort, but he still feels like he needs to pitch under control, holding himself back before he unleashes full intensity.

It’s made these first two starts almost feel similar to Spring Training appearances for Scherzer, as he builds up his stamina and pitch count with the hopes of getting stronger with each turn. He took another step in the right direction in Wednesday’s 8-4 victory over the Orioles, with an encouraging start to the outing, even if the ending made it clear he is still not all the way back to his dominant form.

Scherzer threw 89 pitches and allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts, and with a punchout of Rio Ruiz for the second out in the fourth inning, Scherzer recorded his 200th strikeout on the year. It marked the eighth consecutive season, dating back to 2012, that Scherzer has struck out at least 200 batters, which is the second-longest streak in MLB history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Tom Seaver posted 200 strikeouts in nine consecutive seasons from 1968-76.

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The volume of strikeouts was encouraging for Scherzer, but it also signaled to himself that his pitches were not coming out as sharply as they normally do when he’s at the top of his game.

"I’m not able to just put away guys the way I want, the way I’m capable of,” Scherzer said. “That’ll come when I can turn up the throttle a little bit. And so hopefully I can recover and be able to do that.”

This was Scherzer’s first start at Nationals Park since July 25, the only start he made in between his first (for inflammation in the bursa sac in his right shoulder) and second stint on the injured list (for a mild strain of the rhomboid muscle). He threw just 71 pitches in his first start back last week in Pittsburgh, and manager Dave Martinez revealed after the game that the Nats wanted to keep Scherzer’s pitch count to around 90 pitches in his outing on Wednesday.

It was the start of the fifth inning, however, where Scherzer appeared to begin showing signs of fatigue. He started the frame by giving up a solo homer to Chance Sisco. After inducing a groundout from Stevie Wilkerson, Scherzer gave up back-to-back singles to Jonathan Villar and Anthony Santander, running his pitch count up to 89 on the night. That brought Martinez out from the dugout as he decided to not push his ace any further. And Scherzer obliged, handing Martinez the ball without issue.

"Better. Pitches were a little bit more crisp,” catcher Kurt Suzuki said of Scherzer. “I think he's feeling better. I think just having him back on the mound again for his next start makes everybody feel good. Seeing him out there is awesome."

The recovery has been the most crucial part of this process for Scherzer, who has quipped that he has been day to day for more than six weeks. He has altered his routine slightly in between starts, spending more time in the training room instead of the weight room, to lessen the stress on his back. Until his back feels normal when he wakes up the following day after his outing, Scherzer plans to continue pitching with some reservations.

It’s put the ultra-competitive Nats ace in a strange spot, where he is pitching in such crucial games for the Nationals while acknowledging he is still holding something back.

“We’re at the point in the season where there’s no room for error,” Scherzer said. “I cannot get hurt. So, I understand that. That’s why I’m going out there pitching under control. I’m not going to put my body in jeopardy. If I give up runs, so what? I’m more focused on going out there and pitching, making my starts, throwing my pitches, and recovering. That’s the No. 1 thing. When I can get through this and I can start recovering well and really get into my routine, that’s what I’m really looking forward to getting to.”

The Nationals are hopeful Scherzer will reach that point soon, especially when they consider how important he will be for their postseason hopes.

Washington has a three-game cushion over the rest of the field for the top spot in the National League Wild Card race and a five-game cushion for the second NL Wild Card spot. And if the Nats' rotation were to remain in line for the rest of the season, Scherzer would be lined up to start a potential Wild Card Game. That makes Scherzer’s health as crucial as anything for the Nationals, with just over four weeks left in the regular season.

“Moving forward, we need Max to be Max,” Martinez said. “And he understands that. With that being said, we’re at a pivotal point with him right now. We’ve got to be really careful, and we’ve got to listen to doctors and we’ve got to listen to him and we’ve got to listen to trainers. I’ve got to be smart. You can look at him and say: ‘You know what? He’s OK. He looks good.’ But we have to stick to the plan.”