Washington Nationals: Max Scherzer scare serious October threat

After landing wrong on a pitch, the Washington Nationals and Max Scherzer await an MRI on his right hamstring. It is a big deal.

The end of the 2017 Washington Nationals season could not happen without yet another injury scare.

On Saturday, Max Scherzer suffered what the team called a right hamstring cramp after the ace landed on the mound wrong during the fourth inning of Washington’s 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh. Although Dusty Baker said all the right things after the game, Scherzer underwent a precautionary MRI.

Results are unclear early Sunday morning.

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For a franchise and fan base waiting to advance in the playoffs, the thought of Scherzer in a tube drives the angst level to about 11.5 on a ten-point scale. Anthony Rendon is the biggest name this year not threatened with a major injury. No, they cannot bubble wrap him, either.

Whatever run the Nats have this month relies on a healthy Scherzer. Although a potential two off-days in the National League Divisional Series allows a three-man rotation with four days rest, the NL Championship Series and World Series offer no respite.

Back in the days of limited postseason baseball, it was common for a three-man starting rotation with the ace lined up for Games 1, 4 and 7. As the playoffs grew longer, teams could no longer go that route over a potential 19-game sprint.

In a worst-case scenario, Edwin Jackson or AJ Cole would start critical playoff games. (We will pause briefly as you peel your face off the phone.)

Reality dictates a different answer. Yes, whatever happened Saturday could force Scherzer to miss or delay his scheduled NLDS start. Or, the results are negative on damage and he goes next Friday in the twilight against Chicago and flirts with a no-hitter. Baseball is a fickle mistress.

The timing could not get worse. This postseason for the Nats comes with expectations unseen before. Paired with how the Capitals and Wizards playoff runs ended and you have an entire city waiting on the edge of their collective seats for the worst. Scherzer’s right hamstring scare is straight out of Boston, Chicago and Cleveland’s October playbooks of the past.

Mind you all three cities have had championship parades this century. (Yes, Cleveland’s was in the NBA.)

For now, it is wait and hope. The Nats cannot afford the loss of another starter before the October slog begins, let alone Scherzer. Yet, here we are staring at the thought.

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If Baker is right, Saturday will be forgotten the moment Scherzer warms Friday afternoon. Be right, Dusty.