Scherzer happy to bounce back in final first-half start

USA TodayMax Scherzer and the Nationals entered the weekend with a decision to make between him starting Sunday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, or skipping his turn in interest of his availability for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

It wasn’t a tough one in the end, they say, as Scherzer opted to face the Orioles instead of pitching in Cincinnati. He was coming off his worst outing of the 2015 season when he allowed five earned runs against the Reds and was intent on turning the page.

That goal was accomplished in convincing fashion, as Scherzer fell just one strike short of capturing his fourth complete game of the season. He finished with 8 2/3 innings of two-run ball, with seven…