PHILADELPHIA -- The Nationals were not always confident Max Scherzer would be ready for this start. A stress fracture in his right ring finger had hindered him through the offseason and led to his withdrawal from the World Baseball Classic. He did not pick up a baseball until the start of Spring Training. The pain in his knuckle forced him to try and throw fastballs with three fingers.
The injury ultimately prevented him from making his third consecutive Opening Day start, but Scherzer still looked at this start Friday afternoon as a major accomplishment. And his 2017 debut was reminiscent of the dominant starts that helped him win the National League Cy Young Award last season.