The Washington Nationals announced Monday that National League Cy Young winner Max Scherzer will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic because of a stress fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger.
Both the team and Scherzer said on social media that the team’s ace is expected to be ready for spring training.
Scherzer said he began to feel discomfort in the knuckle in late August. He said it did not affect his velocity or results, so, after consulting with the medical staff, he chose to continue pitching.
By December, Scherzer’s symptoms from the injury had not dissipated. A second MRI showed the stress fracture. In order to be ready for spring training, Scherzer decided not to participate in the WBC.
The United States opens the WBC on March 10 against Colombia in Miami. Nationals pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the team’s new spring training home in West Palm Beach, Florida, Feb. 14.
Scherzer went 20-7 with a 2.96 ERA and 284 strikeouts last season, including a record-tying 20 in one game, for the NL East champion Nationals. He became the sixth pitcher in major league history to win AL and NL Cy Young Awards. He said he was “disappointed” to not be reunited with former Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who is managing the United States’ team.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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