Scherzer returns with 5 innings; 'Just felt rusty'

WASHINGTON -- Nationals manager Dave Martinez was thrilled to see Max Scherzer finally back on the mound Thursday. Sure, he was overjoyed to have Scherzer start a game for the first time in nearly three weeks, but Martinez also was especially happy to have his antsy ace out of the dugout during games.

Ever since the inflammation in the bursa under Scherzer's right shoulder went away and he got back to feeling 100 percent, Scherzer has been itching to get back on the mound.

"Him being on the IL, not so good," Martinez joked prior to Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Rockies. "You have to deal with him every day. Him going out there and exerting himself is kind of nice."

Scherzer was not able to pick up exactly where he left off. In his first start since July 6, he struck out eight and scattered four hits and two walks in five innings, but he gave up three runs before being removed from the game after throwing 86 pitches. Martinez had planned to keep Scherzer around 85-90 pitches, and decided to lift him for a pinch-hitter after seeing signs of fatigue in the fifth.

It's the first time Scherzer has been unable to complete six innings since April 20, and it matched his shortest start of the season from April 2 against the Phillies. This was also the first time Scherzer had given up at least three runs in an outing since May 17.

"Just felt rusty today," Scherzer said after the game. "You don't pitch for a couple weeks, the command's kind of off. I kind of anticipated that coming in, just trying to figure out what I was going to be able to execute today."

After the game, Scherzer could at least come away encouraged to be back on the mound again, after missing two turns through the rotation with the condition known as scapulothoracic bursitis.

His back felt good during the outing, and although he did not anticipate any issues, Scherzer was more concerned about how he would feel Friday after coming to Nationals Park to play catch and test it.

The only issue he did battle on the mound was with his left wrist (non-throwing arm), which bothered him during the game and prevented him from delivering his breaking pitches like he wanted.

"I have no idea how that happened," he said about the wrist injury. "It was actually better at the end of the game than at the beginning of the game."

Before the injury, Scherzer had been on perhaps the best roll of his career, going 7-0 over seven starts with a 0.87 ERA, 79 strikeouts and just six walks. And he's doing this just two days shy of his 35th birthday. But with his ace coming off the injury, Martinez decided to exercise caution after he sensed Scherzer pushing the limit to get through the fifth.

"We talked about it before the game and he was good," Martinez said. "I really believe that after that inning, he was a bit fatigued. He hasn't been out there in three weeks."