WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Max Scherzer returned to using his normal two-finger fastball grip to complete his Minor League start on Thursday afternoon, a significant step forward in his progress from the stress fracture in his right ring finger.
He had been throwing using a modified three-finger grip to alleviate the pressure on his knuckle in order to throw his fastball, but as he mixed in both fastball grips among the 55 pitches he threw in three innings, he said he felt no pain.
"Now I feel back," Scherzer said.
Scherzer was not sure what his next step would be, and although he said he would remain day-to-day to see how his finger would react, he indicated he would be ready to make his Grapefruit League debut next and begin building up his pitch count.