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ATLANTA — With Max Scherzer’s sprained thumb not healed enough to make his scheduled start Tuesday, the Nationals have prepared multiple options to take the mound against the Braves, with reliever Tanner Roark and prospect A.J. Cole both under consideration.
Scherzer tested out his thumb again Monday afternoon during a throwing session in the outfield at Turner Field. Though it felt better than the previous day in Miami, it’s still not 100 percent healed, so the right-hander will not make his scheduled start, manager Matt Williams said.
Williams did say he doesn’t expect Scherzer to need more than a couple extra days to get back on the mound, which means he could slot back into another spot in the rotation during this road trip and not simply pick up his place in five days.