Just recently, we learned that Game Three of the NLDS (hosted by the Cubs at Wrigley Field) was scheduled for 3:08 CT.
Of course, the Chicago Cubs have long since announced their starter for that game, Jose Quintana, but the Washington Nationals, who’ve been waiting patiently on a moderately injured Max Scherzer (hamstring), had previously held back.
Not anymore:
Gio Gonzalez will start Game 2. Max Scherzer will start Game 3.
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) October 6, 2017
Indeed, Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer will start game three of the NLDS, while Gio Gonzalez covers game two in Washington.
We had long suspected this would be the case, but you’ll excuse me for holding out hope that Scherzer’s start would be pushed back to a not-guaranteed Game Four. In any case, the Nationals have clearly decided that, after his bullpen session earlier today, Scherzer’s hamstring is healthy enough to start on Monday at Wrigley Field.
Of course, because he’s not starting in Games One or Two, Scherzer will only face the Cubs once this series, while Stephen Strasburg, presumably, will step in again as a potential Game Five starter.
Strasburg is far from an easy draw, but given Scherzer’s unique ability to command a game from start to finish, this feels like a preferable outcome (all things equal).