Wire Taps: Washington Nationals win second straight over Mets; Max Scherzer returns to rotation + more...

So, what has the experience of the first road trip of the year been for Max Scherzer? It does not sound like he’s enjoying the pandemic travel plans, but that’s probably not surprising at all either... he’s not going to whine about it though.

“It’s way different now,” Scherzer said. “When you’re on the road and you’re at the hotel, it feels like prison now. It feels like the prison league. That’s the only way to describe it.

“You’re just sitting in your hotel room the entire time so, hey, it is what it is. Every day is a challenge.

“Every day there’s something new about this what you’ve got to go out there and do, and every challenge you’ve got to be able to meet and just keep a smile on your face, and just keep moving on.”

Keep moving on. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Scherzer = Gutsy:

Max Scherzer grinds through six innings, and Nationals hang on to beat Mets - (WaPost)
"Max Scherzer's last pitch of the night came with a heavy grunt, heard loud and clear from the second deck of a quiet and nearly empty Citi Field."

Scherzer, bullpen team up for tight win over Mets - (MASN)
"The Nats have now won 12 consecutive games as the designated road team, a streak that dates back to Game 2 of the 2019 National League Division Series..."

Gutsy Scherzer throws 6 strong in return - (MLB.com)
"Starting for the first time since leaving his last outing after one inning because of a tweaked right hamstring, Scherzer worked around heavy traffic early..."

Other Nats Stories:

Trea Turner's early homer and late sliding catch bookend 2-1 win for Nats - (MASN)
"With a home run and a single to start the contest, Turner was in the midst of five hits in his last six at-bats in the series."

MLB finally delves into logic with postseason bubble consideration - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Major League Baseball appears to be having a needed epiphany."

As top prospects join MLB rosters, Nationals' Luis Garcia is one step away - (NBC Sports Washington)
"[Luis] Garcia was added to the Nationals’ player pool in July and traveled with the team for its road trip this week as a member of the taxi squad."

Romero looks "fearless," could be added to roster if Nats need lefty - (MASN)
"It was an interesting choice, showing the Nats have confidence in Romero and his stuff and believe that he is very close to making that next step."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Braves' Ronald Acuna scratched vs. Yankees with sore left wrist - (ESPN)
"Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was scratched from the lineup against the New York Yankees because of a sore left wrist."

Miami's first taste of extras ends in loss - (MLB.com)
"The Marlins used the long ball to pull even in the ninth inning, but they were unable to convert playing small ball in the new formatted extras."

Walker Lockett likely to start Wednesday for Mets - (NY Post)
"The first crack at filling the vacancy in the Mets rotation could belong to Walker Lockett."

Phils teeter before dropping wild one to O's - (MLB.com)
"What just happened at Citizens Bank Park?"