WASHINGTON — Nationals starter Max Scherzer exited because of a hamstring problem after laboring through just one inning Wednesday night against the New York Mets.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, walked the game’s first batter, gave up a hit to the next and fell behind 1-0 on Dominic Smith‘s sacrifice fly. Scherzer’s fastball was in the lower 90s, and he needed 27 pitches to get through his lone inning.
Scherzer didn’t return because of trouble with his right hamstring. He was replaced in the top of the second by Erick Fedde.
The Mets went on to beat the Nationals 3-1.
Scherzer, 36, entered the game with an 0-1 record and a 2.84 ERA.
He threw 99 pitches on Opening Day against the Yankees, then an MLB season-high 112 in his next start. But he had an extra two days of rest after that one because the Nationals recently had a four-day layoff when their series at Miami was postponed because of the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
