Scherzer after Game 4 gem: 'My arm is hanging right now'

Max Scherzer helped save the Washington Nationals' season on Monday when he hurled seven innings of one-run ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers to stave off elimination, pushing himself to the limit to do so.

The 35-year-old admitted he was "gassed" after throwing 109 pitches on short rest and appeared exhausted in the team's clubhouse, according to MLB.com's Jamal Collier.

"My arm is hanging right now," Scherzer said after the game. "That was, that pushed me all the way to the edge and then some. So, yeah, I can't imagine any scenario where I'm pitching (in Game 5)."

The right-hander tossed 14 pitches in the eighth inning of Game 2 on Friday before returning to start Monday's crucial contest. He allowed just four hits while striking out seven and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to conclude his outing.

"What an incredible performance by Max tonight," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He gave it everything he had."

With Scherzer shelved for the series finale, the Nationals will turn to Stephen Strasburg in Game 5 at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles.

The winner advances to the National League Championship Series to play either the Atlanta Braves or St. Louis Cardinals. The Nationals have never appeared in the championship series since moving to Washington.