Washington Nationals News: Max Scherzer looking to overcome early season struggles

Today’s District Daily features stories on Max Scherzer‘s early-season struggles and a hot take on how the Washington Nationals have not yet picked up Mike Rizzo’s two-year option.

Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.

In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Jamal Collier discusses Max Scherzer’s performance so far this season. As Collier writes, the ace has struggled at times in his first few starts of 2016 and is hoping to quickly overcome his issues.

According to Collier, Scherzer has struggled to locate his fastball and his mechanics have been off.

Here’s what Scherzer had to say, via Collier’s article:

"“You go through funks and right now this is a funk,” Scherzer said. “But at the end of the day, this is an easy thing to correct. This is just a minor tweak. You get through it.”"

Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga discusses the Nationals “knack for making simple things difficult,” including their seemingly unnecessary decision to delay picking up Mike Rizzo’s two-year option.

Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.

Max seeking quick fix to early season ‘funk’

(Jamal Collier, Washington Post)

WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer was the Nationals’ most reliable pitcher last season when he posted a 2.79 ERA and tossed a pair of no-hitters. He made his second consecutive start on Opening Day for the Nationals and entered the season their unquestioned ace.

So it is a bit surprising that after his first five starts this season, Scherzer owns the highest ERA on the Nationals’ pitching staff at 4.35 after laboring through his latest outing during the Nationals’ 4-3 loss Tuesday against the Phillies.

Scherzer issued a season-high four walks, the most since he joined the Nationals, and gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings. He struggled to locate his fastball and his mechanics were a bit off for the second consecutive start, although he considers the issues an easy fix. Read full article here.

The Nats have a knack for making simple things difficult. Just ask Mike Rizzo.

(Barry Svrluga, Washington Post)

In spring training, before the season began, maybe there really was no reason for the ownership of the local baseball team to look at its general manager, consider his body of work and decide whether to pick up the two-year option on his contract. “It’s early,” Mark Lerner, one of the Washington Nationals’ owners, said at the time. The deadline for such an action, written into the contract of General Manager Mike Rizzo, is June 15. Early, in March? Maybe.

But at some point, early becomes late, and late becomes unnecessary, and before you know it you have yet another instance in which you’re left to wonder: Why do the Lerners make easy things so difficult so often? Read full article here.