Max Scherzer scratched from tonight’s start due to neck spasms

Max Scherzer has been scratched from tonight’s start due to neck spasms, the Mets announced this afternoon. David Peterson was scheduled to start tonight for Triple-A Syracuse, but instead was flown to Cincinnati in case Scherzer was not able to pitch. David Peterson was then officially added to the roster to take the start in Scherzer’s stead. In a somewhat surprising corresponding move, the Mets placed Jimmy Yacabonis on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 8, with a left quad strain.

It was reported yesterday that Scherzer was still dealing with lingering issues with his scapula/back, but that he was “managing” the issue. The team believes that the neck spasms that are keeping Scherzer off the mound tonight are “minor” and unrelated to the scapula/back discomfort. Scherzer has dealt with neck spasms before; he was scratched from Game 5 of the World Series in 2019 due to neck spasms and eventually pitched three days later in Game 7. For now, Scherzer is considered day-to-day.

In five starts this season, Scherzer is 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA and 20 strikeouts. Before being sent down to Triple-A, David Peterson posted a 7.34 ERA in six starts. In his most recent start with Syracuse on Thursday, Peterson gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings of work, striking out four batters and walking five. In nine relief innings this season, Yacabonis has had mixed results, yielding nine runs in total over that span. The Mets’ 4.74 staff ERA remains the worst in the National League and Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander have pitched just 27 ²⁄₃ innings combined in 2023.