New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (neck) won't take the mound for Friday's game against the Washington Nationals. The veteran starter is dealing with a neck issue, but it's not believed to be serious. However, the Mets are concerned about Scherzer's shoulder issue. It is being reported that this scapula issue will need to be monitored and possibly managed throughout the season. Scherzer has already said he'd rather pitch at less than 100 percent rather than being placed on the injured list. However, the Mets might not have a choice if Scherzer continues to struggle on the mound. He holds a 5.56 ERA and 20/10 K/BB ratio in 22 2/3 innings this season. Fantasy managers will have to check back for more information throughout the week.

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter said that starting pitcher Max Scherzer (neck) threw on flat ground on Thursday, but he won't be ready to start on Friday against the Washington Nationals. Instead, either Joey Lucchesi or Tylor Megill will get the nod. "Max threw out to 90 feet today," Showalter said, "He's improving each day, so it's a matter of 'when.' Want to get him up on the mound and make sure that's OK." Neck spasms scratched Scherzer from his previously scheduled start on Tuesday. There's still a chance the three-time Cy Young winner will be able to pitch in the series against Washington, and it looks like he'll be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. Hopefully for his fantasy managers, the 38-year-old isn't starting to break down.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (neck, shoulder) said he expects to miss a couple of days and pitch against the Washington Nationals in the next series this weekend. Scherzer's neck discomfort set in on Sunday and was much worse Monday morning, leading to him being scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. "I wish I could pitch, but when this locks up, you can't do a thing until it subsides," Scherzer said. The 38-year-old right-hander is hoping to avoid the injured list, but fantasy managers can't rule out the possibility of it going that way if Scherzer isn't ready to face his old team by the weekend. The three-time Cy Young winner hasn't been at his best so far in 2023, and injuries haven't helped.

New York Mets right-hander Max Scherzer (neck, shoulder) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds due to neck spasms. Left-hander David Peterson has officially been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and will make the spot start, while right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis (quadriceps) has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 8) with a left-quadriceps strain. Scherzer is also dealing with a right back/shoulder ailment that he's pitched through for most of the season. As of right now, the 38-year-old is considered day-to-day, but fantasy managers should prepare for the possibility that Scherzer needs a stint on the injured list. Scherzer currently has an ERA north of 5.00 and may finally be breaking down.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (shoulder) is uncertain to make his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds, and the team has called up left-hander David Peterson to be on standby as a potential replacement. Scherzer isn't quite 100 percent healthy and is still dealing with discomfort underneath his right scapular, so the 38-year-old veteran right-hander is a candidate to go on the injured list if he can't recover quickly enough. He said he's "trying like hell not to join the injured list." Father Time may finally be catching up with the three-time Cy Young winner, as he's currently sporting a 5.56 ERA (6.35 FIP), 1.41 WHIP, 10 walks and 20 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings over his five starts in his second year with the Mets.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (shoulder) recently mentioned that he's still dealing with a lingering shoulder issue. The right-hander recently returned from his 10-game suspension last week, allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Scherzer is showing a dip in velocity and that could be due to his injury. The veteran pitcher acknowledged he's dealing with discomfort in his right scapula around his shoulder blade. He said it's about managing his condition, so it doesn't sound like something that will sideline him. However, the Mets might decide to place Scherzer on the injured list, assuming he continues to struggle on the mound. Scherzer said himself, it's better for him to pitch at less than 100 percent rather than take time off.

The New York Mets reinstated starting pitcher Max Scherzer from the restricted list on Tuesday. Scherzer is back after completing his 10-game suspension for the use of foreign substances in his last outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 19. The 38-year-old right-hander will make his next start on Wednesday in an excellent matchup against his former team, the Detroit Tigers. The three-time Cy Young winner hasn't been all that great in his first four starts of 2023, posting a 3.72 ERA (5.72 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, nine walks and 17 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings, but fantasy managers will definitely want to get him back into their starting lineups this week for a cushy matchup against the Tigers.

Major League Baseball has suspended New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer for 10 games on Thursday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The right-hander was caught using a foreign substance and ejected from his start on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer isn't going to appeal, so he'll miss his next scheduled start, which was supposed to come on Tuesday to take on the Washington Nationals. So far this season, the 38-year-old has posted a 3.72 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, an uncharacteristic 22.1% strikeout rate, and an ugly 11.7% walk rate. Scherzer has the ability to figure things out, so fantasy managers should still trust the veteran when he returns.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer has "zero chance" of avoiding a mandatory 10-game suspension from his ejection on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers for a foreign substance, according to a source. A 2023 MLB memo explicitly says that rosin can be deemed an illegal substance if it is overused. Rosin also isn't supposed to be applied anywhere but on the mound during a game. There's a chance that Scherzer will appeal the suspension and push it back, but at some point he'll almost certainly have to sit out 10 games for the incident on Wednesday. Stay tuned for more information on the situation. In four starts so far this year, the 38-year-old right-hander has allowed eight runs on 14 hits (four home runs) while walking nine and striking out 17 in 19 1/3 frames.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer was ejected from his start on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers after a heated conversation with the umpires. In his last inning of work, he was forced to get a new glove. Before hitting the showers early, Scherzer had allowed just one hit and no runs while walking two and striking out three in three innings, so it's extremely disappointing for his fantasy managers. The 38-year-old right-hander had his start moved back to Wednesday due to soreness in his back/side, but he looked just fine against a tough lineup before being ejected by the umpires. UPDATE: Mad Max was ejected for having a foreign substance on his hand, so he could be facing a 10-game suspension by the league.

New York Mets ace Max Scherzer (back) will see his next start pushed back to Wednesday due to right side/back soreness. He was initially scheduled to pitch on Sunday but will have his start pushed back three days. The right-hander will now face the Dodgers on Wednesday. Scherzer owns a 4.41 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 14:7 K:BB across 16 1/3 innings in 2023. Unless more information comes out, fantasy managers can start Scherzer in all league formats in Week 4. Jose Butto will replace Scherzer in Sunday's start. Butto has a plus matchup against the A's and can be used as a streamer in deep-league formats.

New York Mets star right-hander Max Scherzer's start on Tuesday didn't go as planned, as he allowed five earned runs across 5 1/3 innings. He gave up eight hits, walked two, and compiled just two punchouts in the game as his team lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 9-0. Scherzer now owns a 6.35 ERA after he let up three runs in six innings on Opening Day, and he's posted a 1.41 WHIP and 17.0% strikeout rate. It's no time for fantasy managers to panic about the 38-year-old, who pitched to a 2.29 ERA with 173 strikeouts over 145 1/3 innings a year ago, but they should keep an eye on him throughout the season in case his age is finally catching up to him.

The New York Mets are planning to start right-hander Max Scherzer on Opening Day against the Miami Marlins on March 30 and Justin Verlander in the home opener on April 6. Scherzer is more injury-prone than ever before in his career and will turn 39 this July, but when healthy, he's still one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. The three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star went 11-5 with a career-best 2.29 ERA (2.62 FIP), 0.91 WHIP and 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 145 1/3 innings over 23 starts in his first year in Queens in 2022. Scherzer should be drafted as a fantasy ace yet again and will be a must-start every time he toes the rubber as long as he's healthy.

New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer wasn't at his best in a minors game on the backfields Monday afternoon. The three-time Cy Young Award winner surrendered five runs (three earned) across five innings of work, three of which ended early due to pitch count. Scherzer agreed to pitch in the minors game while allowing Tylor Megill, who is in competition for the final spot in the Mets' rotation, to pitch in the A game. Scherzer had previously allowed just one earned run in 4 2/3 innings of work in game action this spring, striking out six against zero walks. The 38-year-old has seen the injury bug creep in some over the last few seasons but still pitched to a stout 2.29 ERA and 26.4% K-BB% across 23 starts in 2022. He'll look to team up with former Detroit Tigers teammate Justin Verlander to form one of the better one-two punches in baseball this season.

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter said that starting pitcher Max Scherzer is set to pitch on Sunday in his first Grapefruit League start in spring training against his old team, the Washington Nationals. Like all pitchers early in camp, Scherzer won't last long in this one. The 38-year-old right-hander went on the injured list twice in 2022 due to oblique injuries, but otherwise he was very good in his first year in the Big Apple, going 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA (2.62 FIP), 0.91 WHIP and 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 145 1/3 innings (23 starts). Scherzer's velocity has dropped with age, but he's still plenty dominant to be considered a low-end fantasy ace, albeit with more injury risk built in as he nears the end of his fabulous career.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer was able to throw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session on Sunday. He feels confident that he corrected a mechanical issue that plagued him in Game 1. The 38-year-old was tagged for seven runs during his start against the San Diego Padres on Friday. It was an awful outing, but it sounds like Scherzer will be better going forward. However, he won't be available for Sunday's must-win contest. He should be ready to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, assuming the Mets are able to advance.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer was not his typical self in Friday's Game 1 against the San Diego Padres. He allowed four home runs and seven runs altogether in just 4 2/3 innings while striking out four and walking none. The deficit was too much for the Mets to come back from, and Scherzer took the loss in the 7-1 contest. The veteran had a Cy Young-caliber regular season, pitching to a 2.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 30.6% strikeout rate and 11-5 record, but he only made 23 starts. If the Mets can win back-to-back games to advance, Scherzer will get the ball early in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite his blowup.

The New York Mets are planning to start right-hander Max Scherzer in Game 1 of the wild-card series against the San Diego Padres on Friday. And in their best scenario, they are contemplating a strategy to save Jacob deGrom for the National League Division Series if they advance. If the Mets win and don't face elimination on Saturday, they would use right-hander Chris Bassitt in Game 2. If they lose the opener, they would use deGrom in Game 2 to try to avoid elimination. If they win the opener and lose Game 2, deGrom would start Game 3 to attempt to advance. Scherzer and deGrom are both available on extra rest for the wild-card series. The good news is the Mets have two former Cy Young winners at their disposal, and they'll need them both if they advance past the Padres to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer had an eventful start back from the injured list in Monday's 7-2 win over the Brewers. Scherzer pitched 6 perfect innings with nine strikeouts on 68 pitches, earning his 10th win of the season and 200th of his career. Further, this win clinched a playoff spot for the Mets. It was encouraging for the Mets and fantasy managers to see the 38-year-old pitch so well after missing time with an oblique injury. The veteran has been stellar once again this season with a 2.15 ERA and 10.91 K/9 rate over 21 starts. Scherzer's next start should be a great matchup at the Athletics.

The New York Mets activated right-hander Max Scherzer (oblique) from the 15-day injured list on Monday. The Mets also activated right-hander Tylor Megill (shoulder) from the injured list and optioned right-hander Stephen Nogosek and left-hander Alex Claudio to Triple-A Syracuse in corresponding moves. Scherzer is starting on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 38-year-old ace struck out seven in just 3 2/3 innings in his minor league rehab start for Syracuse last Wednesday, but he threw only 59 pitches, so he could be slightly limited from a pitch-count perspective in his return to New York's rotation on Monday. However, it's still hard to recommend benching the three-time Cy Young winner in fantasy.