Wire Taps: Nationals take NLDS Game 2; Nats and Dodgers head to D.C.; Who starts Game 3 for the Nats?

So... a few hours after announcing Max Scherzer as the starter for Game 3 of the NLDS, Davey Martinez sent the Nationals’ ace out to the mound for a scoreless seventh in LA’s Dodger Stadium. Will Scherzer still be able to go tomorrow night?

“We’ll see,” Martinez said. “I talked to him now. I’m going to see how he feels tomorrow. We’ll -- I want to make sure he gets a night. He’s working out right now and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Do you really think there’s any chance Scherzer says he can’t go? If he doesn’t start?

“If not him, it will probably be [Aníbal] Sánchez,” Martinez said.

Either way, the Nationals got the win, it’s 1-1, and there will be two games in D.C. tomorrow and Monday. Get your red on. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

NLDS Game 2 Stories:

Soto robs Kershaw with incredible diving grab - (MLB.com)
"After tagging Kershaw for three runs over the first two innings, the Nationals also managed to neutralize the Dodgers left-hander at the plate with an outstanding diving catch from left fielder Juan Soto."

Stephen Strasburg, Nationals beat Dodgers to take Game 2 of NLDS - (WaPost)
"The Nationals beat the Dodgers, 4-2, because Strasburg went through their order like a wrecking ball and a makeshift bullpen held on."

Leaning on Max Scherzer-Stephen Strasburg duo, Nationals conjure up win-now magic - (ESPN)
"This isn't the first time Washington has gone all desperate times/desperate measures in the postseason."

Nats' biggest names embracing expanded roles in October - (MASN)
"The Nationals have pitched 26 innings of postseason baseball so far this week, all of them high-stress, high-stakes innings, with one game officially must-win and another game ostensibly must-win."

Strasburg and surprise reliever Scherzer pitch Nats to win (updated) - (MASN)
"Martinez felt victory tonight was so critical, he sent Game 3 starter Max Scherzer to the mound for the bottom of the eighth inning with his team leading by two runs."

The Nationals are breaking the rules, and just might steal the series from the Dodgers - (WaPost)
"In response to your question — "What the devil are the Washington Nationals doing using their superstar starting pitchers out of the bullpen" — the answer is now clear."

As Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer show, ‘There is no routine in the postseason’ - (WaPost)
"Sorting this one out could take the length of a cross-country flight, then fill the hours before Sunday’s Game 3..."

Tabbed for G3, Scherzer pitches 8th in G2 - (MLB.com)
"And Washington remains confident, despite dealing with back and shoulder injuries this season, that Scherzer can get back to his old form."

Random Nats Stuff:

Nationals say Max Scherzer will start Game 3 of NLDS against Dodgers - (WaPost)
"Scherzer will be four days removed from an uneven start in the National League wild-card game."

Juan Soto is a very quick learner. Just listen to his English - (WaPost)
"When he’s on the field, when he’s crushing home runs, when he’s posting numbers that few ever have at his age, it’s easy to forget how young he really is."

Martinez, players hope for looser approach tonight (Nats win 4-2) - (MASN)
"Turns out the players did take time after Thursday’s loss to remind everyone of how they got here in the first place."

Trea Turner says Washington Nationals are trying too hard -- 'Have a little bit more fun' - (ESPN)
"When it comes to the postseason, struggling at the start is nothing new for the Nats."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

NLDS Game 2: Nationals even series with Dodgers - (Yahoo!Sports)
"The Washington Nationals aren’t going down without a fight."

Was Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw tipping pitches in NLDS Game 2? - (Sporting News)
"Was Clayton Kershaw tipping his pitches in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Friday? If you watch this video of Trea Turner, that's an easy conclusion to come to."

Nationals bullpen boosted by Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg - (Yahoo!Sports)
"This bullpen, man. This damned bullpen in Washington D.C. is some collection of survivors and has-beens and can-bes and scar tissue and facial hair and thunderclap contact and breathtaking falls and Darwinian endurance..."