Sanchez, not Scherzer, to start Game 3 for Nats
Max Scherzer steps in to relieve Sean Doolittle and pitches a scoreless inning in the eighth on Friday night, after starting the wild-card game Tuesday. (0:17)
WASHINGTON — Anibal Sanchez, not Max Scherzer, will be the Washington Nationals‘ starting pitcher for Game 3 of their National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Nationals announced the switch Sunday morning, less than nine hours before the game is scheduled to begin.
Scherzer had been expected to take the mound Sunday for Washington in the tied series. But that plan was thrown into question after he came on in relief in Game 2 and struck out all three batters he faced in a 4-2 victory at Los Angeles on Friday night.
Sanchez went 11-8 with a 3.85 ERA this season, his first with the Nationals.
He is 2-5 with a 3.12 ERA in eight previous postseason appearances for Detroit and Atlanta. He started one game of last year’s NLDS between the Braves and Dodgers, allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings and taking the loss for Atlanta.