Washington still lists Tuesday’s starter as “TBA,” though the Nationals don’t have any obvious candidates. Right-hander Joe Ross could start, but he pitched in Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving up six earned runs on nine hits in 4⅔ innings. Former fifth starter Austin Voth is still on the 10-day injured list with biceps tendinitis, and Martinez said Sunday he highly doubts the right-hander could be ready for a spot start. The other two minor league candidates, Erick Fedde and Kyle McGowin, are not eligible to return from the minors because they were optioned fewer than 10 days ago. But if the Nationals move a pitcher to the IL, such as Scherzer or a reliever, they could recall Fedde or McGowin under those conditions.

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On Friday, the morning after his start, Scherzer woke up and felt discomfort. An MRI exam revealed a mild rhomboid muscle strain in his upper back and below his right shoulder. Scherzer received a stem cell injection and was shut down for Friday and Saturday. When a reporter suggested that day he didn’t seem encouraged or concerned by the development, Scherzer said: “It’s both.”

“I’m not happy,” he said. “But on the other hand, we’re talking minor strain, so there’s a heck of a lot of other things that could be wrong with your body and arm and shoulder. Those are really — knock on wood, those are the bad stuff.”

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For now, Martinez stressed the long term. The Nationals need their ace if they are to have any hope in the playoffs. He wants Scherzer to understand that as well, and he decided they would have another conversation about how to handle Tuesday later.

“We’ll figure that out tomorrow,” Martinez said.