Max Scherzer’s status for Opening Day is now in doubt. The Mets‘ right-hander was scratched from a scheduled intrasquad start on Saturday because of right hamstring tightness, and now Scherzer, per Tim Healey on Twitter, says he’s not sure he’ll be ready to face the Nationals in the Mets’ first game of the regular season on Thursday. Scherzer characterized his status as day-to-day.
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Scherzer, whom the Mets signed to a two-year, $86.67 million deal earlier this offseason, is being tabbed as the Opening Day starter only because ace Jacob deGrom is sidelined possibly until June or later with a stress reaction in his scapula. If Scherzer is unable to go, then the first start of the season may fall to Chris Bassitt, whom the Mets acquired from the A’s in a March trade.
Scherzer, 37, is coming off a strong 2021 season in which he pitched to a 2.46 ERA and 6.56 K/BB ratio in 179 1/3 innings for the Nationals and Dodgers. For his efforts, the future Hall of Famer finished third in the NL Cy Young balloting. Scherzer previously won the AL Cy Young in 2013 with the Tigers and the NL award in 2016 and 2017 as a member of the Nationals.
Mets owner Steve Cohen spent big this offseason in an effort to position his Mets as serious contenders in the tough NL East. Already, though, health concerns at the front of the rotation have compromised the Mets’ hopes in 2022. Unlike deGrom’s injury, Scherzer’s does not appear to be serious, but hamstring problems can be notoriously slow to heal.
Not coincidentally, the Mets are reported to be in trade discussions with the Padres about a deal that in part would send right-handed starter Chris Paddack to New York.
