Once again, the Dodgers are dealing with issues involving their starting pitchers.
Manager Dave Roberts has employed bullpen games multiple times in this year's postseason, both by design and because of circumstance, and he may have another one on his hands for Game 6 of the NLCS on Saturday after it was reported Friday that right-hander Max Scherzer would not make his scheduled start.
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The possibility of a Scherzer scratch was first reported by Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times. Other reporters followed with similar information.
Breaking: Max Scherzer will not start Game 6 of the NLCS tomorrow against the Braves.https://t.co/oo7B5B2ddl
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) October 23, 2021
According to Castillo, the first indication that Scherzer wouldn't start Saturday was when the Dodgers canceled the customary media appearance for the following day's starting pitcher after arriving in Atlanta on Friday night.
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Scherzer, 37, has been used a lot in the past two weeks. He recorded a save in Game 5 of the NLDS to send the Dodgers to the next round after starting Game 3 of that series, and then he started Game 2 of the NLCS where he threw 79 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. After that appearance, he said his arm was "dead" after pitching on three days' rest.
The Dodgers trail the NLCS three games to two. They could turn to their bullpen again or start one of Walker Buehler or Julio Urias on short rest in Game 6 at Truist Park in Atlanta (5:08 or 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS).
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