Right-hander Max Scherzer has the fastball of former Diamondbacks teammate Randy Johnson and is stepping into Johnson's spot in the rotation this season. Unfortunately for the team, Scherzer also has started this spring gingerly, as Johnson did in his final two seasons with the club.
Scherzer was set back when suffered right shoulder inflammation while working out before the start of spring training, and he took a shot of cortisone in late January after visiting team physician Michael Lee. He threw his second bullpen session of the spring Feb. 26 and was scheduled to throw another side session on Feb. 28.
It is expected that Scherzer's next step will be to throw at least one live batting practice session, although it is unclear when that will be held. His first live game appearance is likewise unscheduled.
Johnson was delayed out of spring training in his last two seasons with the D-backs, 2007 and 2008, after offseason back surgeries.
Scherzer was 0-4 with a 3.05 ERA as a rookie in 2008, showing a fastball that topped out at 98 mph.
He had 28 strikeouts in 17 innings in a three-start stretch against the Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 7), Cincinnati (Sept. 14) and Colorado (Sept. 19). He was 0-1 with two no-decisions in those games, when the D-backs scored a total of six runs.
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