Max Scherzer, a superstar right-hander, blamed a dead arm for his short start in Game 2 of the N.L.C.S. He said he might be available to pitch if there is a Game 7.
Max Scherzer said he knew he was “in a bind” a couple of days ago when his right arm wasn’t recovering as quickly as it usually does following his Game 2 start in the National League Championship Series in Atlanta. That he would not be available to start Game 6 as Los Angeles faced elimination Saturday night became clear, he said, when he showed up to play catch and loosen his arm at Dodger Stadium before the club flew east on Friday. He is holding out hope that, should the Dodgers win and force a Game 7, he will be able to pitch on Sunday. “My arm’s been locked up the past couple of days,” Scherzer said in front of the Dodgers’ dugout Saturday afternoon, dressed in blue workout shorts and a blue T-shirt. “After that Game 2 start, I knew I was going to be sore for a couple of days, but it was just general muscle soreness.” Walker Buehler was moved up to start Game 6 on short rest. He had originally been slated to start Game 7. Scherzer said it is normal to “overcook yourself” in a postseason start and added that his experience in the playoffs has taught him a great deal about his body. He has made 21 career postseason starts and has appeared in five other postseason games as a reliever.
