The Dodgers have scratched Scherzer from his Game 6 start tonight and will instead turn to 16-game winner Walker Buehler.
After pitching in relief in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Giants, Scherzer admitted to having “dead arm” during his 79-pitch start in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Braves.
He allowed two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings in that no-decision. Since then, Scherzer continued to prepare to make another start, but the soreness never totally went away, according to a source.
Scherzer was scheduled to talk to the media on Friday, but wasn’t made available. It’s unknown right now whether Scherzer would be an option to pitch in a potential Game 7 on Sunday. Buehler had been lined up to make that start if they can extend the series.
It was thought the Dodgers would treat Game 6 as a bullpen game with Tony Gonsolin, Evan Phillips or David Price providing the bulk of the innings. Price is being added to the 26-man roster as a replacement for an injured Joe Kelly.
The Dodgers did pitch Buehler on three days’ rest in the NLDS, but it was unknown whether they’d be comfortable doing so again after he started Game 3 on Tuesday. In what was his first career start on short rest, Buehler allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings against the Giants.
