Scherzer won't start Sunday despite playoff implications for Rockies

The Colorado Rockies' hopes of winning the NL West just got a huge boost.

Barely 24 hours after revealing plans to start ace Max Scherzer on Sunday if the game mattered to Colorado, the Washington Nationals and manager Dave Martinez reversed course and announced that their ace won't take the mound after all in the season finale.

The first-year skipper cited workload concerns as the reason for skipping Scherzer.

"Max did his job. He threw 220 innings (this year)," Martinez said, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN. "... I understand the integrity of the game, but both teams (the Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers) are in it. I've got to take care of my player."

Right-hander Erick Fedde will make the start for Washington, opposite Tyler Anderson of the Rockies.

Sunday's game is critical for Colorado, who need a win and a Dodgers loss to clinch their first division title in franchise history. The Rockies and Dodgers are tied atop the NL West after 161 games, and if both teams either win or lose, the clubs would play a tiebreaker for the division on Monday in Los Angeles.

Despite the Nationals being eliminated from the playoff race, Scherzer had already expressed his excitement for getting to pitch in a playoff-like atmosphere at Coors Field on Sunday. On Saturday, after the change was announced, he took the move in stride.

"I was mentally ready to pitch but I completely understand (the team's) call," Scherzer said Saturday night, per Zuckerman.

With his 2018 season now officially over, the 34-year-old finishes his year with a 2.53 ERA alongside an NL-best 18 wins, 300 strikeouts, and 0.91 WHIP across an MLB-leading 220 2/3 innings. Scherzer earned his third consecutive strikeout title, and is considered a top candidate to win what would be his third consecutive NL Cy Young award, and fourth of his career.