Alex Brandon/Associated Press
WASHINGTON — This has been a decade of extraordinary achievement for Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals: He has more wins and strikeouts in the 2010s than any other pitcher in the majors, and three Cy Young Awards. His final start before the 2020s was supposed to be on Sunday, in Game 5 of the World Series against the Houston Astros. But his neck would not allow it.
The Nationals scratched Scherzer about four hours before Game 5, giving his start to Joe Ross. Scherzer had been struggling with a nerve condition in his neck in recent days, and on Sunday, he said, he woke up in such pain that it hurt to get out of bed.