It’s not time to worry about Max Scherzer … yet

1:03 AM ET

WASHINGTON — Look around the league, and there’s no shortage of big-name pitchers struggling early. Suddenly, Max Scherzer appears to be one of them.

Facing the Philadelphia Phillies on a balmy Tuesday night in DC, the Washington Nationals ace turned in another subpar start, his second straight and his third in five outings this season. As has been the norm for Scherzer so far in 2016, things got ugly early when he walked leadoff hitter Odubel Herrera on four pitches to start the game. It was the first time in nearly five years in which Scherzer issued a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced. He followed that by allowing a home run to the very next batter, Andres Blanco.

Just like that, the Phillies were up 2-0 and Scherzer was an ace in a hole. Again. The Nationals ended up eventually losing 4-3 to Philadelphia.

If there’s one pattern that’s most alarming about the 31-year-old righty, it’s been his effectiveness — or lack thereof — in the first frame. He has served up three gopher balls in the first already this season, tied for most in the majors. His 14.40 ERA in the initial inning is higher than that of any other hurler.

Max Scherzer gave up another first-inning home run on Tuesday, further evidence of his early-season struggles. Greg Fiume/Getty Images

But on Tuesday, as was the case in his last start against Miami, the damage wasn’t just contained to the first inning. Scherzer labored through six innings, throwing 116 pitches, allowing at least one baserunner in every inning and multiple baserunners in all but two frames. He walked as many batters in one game tonight (4) as he did in all of April last season. It’s a problem that’s not lost on …

continue reading in source espn.go.com