Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer has been scratched from Sunday’s start against the Philadelphia Phillies due to back soreness, manager Davey Martinez told reporters on Friday.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner underwent an MRI exam, and Martinez said it came back negative.
The right-hander experienced soreness in his middle back after his last outing on July 6 against the Kansas City Royals.
Martinez said Scherzer’s start would be pushed back a few days.
The red-hot Scherzer is 7-0 with a 0.84 ERA over his past nine starts. The 34-year-old is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA in 19 starts this season.
Right-hander Anibal Sanchez will start Sunday in Scherzer’s pace. Sanchez is 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 16 starts.