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New York Mets scratch Max Scherzer from Tuesday's start vs. Reds due to 'neck spasms'


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CINCINNATI — Just when it appeared that the New York Mets had their two aces finally in line atop the starting rotation, that order hit another snag on Tuesday afternoon.

Max Scherzer was scratched from Tuesday's start against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night as he deals with neck spasms. David Peterson was called up to start in Scherzer's place while Jimmy Yacabonis was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left quad strain.

Scherzer has been dealing with discomfort below his right scapula since late April when he had a start pushed back three days as he dealt with lingering discomfort. In that start against the Dodgers on April 19, Scherzer was ejected and later suspended for 10 games for violating Major League Baseball's foreign substance use rules.

It is uncertain whether this malady is related to that injury.

The 38-year-old right-hander struggled in his return on May 3 against the Tigers when he gave up six earned runs on eight hits, including a pair of home runs, in 3⅓ innings as he suffered his second loss of the season. This season, Scherzer is 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in five starts. He has struck out 20 batters in 22⅔ and seen his velocity drop nearly 1 mph off last season.

After one start with Triple-A Syracuse after being sent down on April 29, Peterson made the trip to Cincinnati. In six starts with the Mets this season, the 27-year-old left-hander is 1-4 with a 7.34 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 30⅔ innings.

Peterson's demotion was done to make room for the return of Justin Verlander, who made his Mets debut on May 4 against the Tigers after missing the opening month of the season with a low-grade teres major strain on his right side.

With injuries across the board, beginning with Jose Quintana's trip to the 60-day IL following bone graft surgery in March, the Mets starting rotation has struggled through 35 games. The unit is 24th in MLB with a 5.34 ERA, 29th in home runs per nine innings (1.03 per start) and 30th in walks per nine innings (2.49 per start).