World Series: Could Nationals' Max Scherzer start a potential Game 7? Dave Martinez 'definitely' thinks so

Scherzer was scratched from Game 5 with a neck and back trouble

Sunday afternoon, hours before Game 5 of the World Series, Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced Max Scherzer would not start the game as scheduled. He woke up with a neck and back issue and had to be scratched. Joe Ross got the nod instead in an eventual Game 5 loss.

"When I woke up this morning I was completely locked up," Scherzer said. "It's not just a muscle spasm. In talking to the doctors here, the nerve that's in the neck is all jammed up. Thankfully from the doctors, what they say, as long as I have no numbness coming down my arms or anything, you don't actually deal with any serious, any long-term damage here."

Martinez and Scherzer both indicated he could start later in the World Series. That would mean a possible Game 7 is in play for Scherzer, given that Stephen Strasburg is lined up to start Game 6 on Tuesday. In fact, Martinez went on to say he expects Scherzer to be on the mound in a potential Game 7.

"I think Max will definitely start that game (Game 7)," Martinez told Tom Verducci during the Fox pregame show. It's worth noting that after Game 5, Martinez seemed to couch his comments on Scherzer -- noting that he wasn't certain about his status.

Of course, Game 7 is not guaranteed -- not for the Nationals, anyway.

The Astros' win in Game 5 means they now lead the best-of-seven series by a 3-2 margin. The Nationals will have to win Game 6 to force a seventh, winner-takes-all game.

Scherzer, 35, missed time in July and August with a back issue. He has a 2.16 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings spread across four starts and one relief appearance this October.