Scherzer scratched from Game 5 with injury

Manager Dave Martinez announced the Washington Nationals will be without Max Scherzer in Game 5 of the World Series, as their ace is suffering from spasms in his neck and right trapezius, per ESPN's Marly Rivera.

Scherzer was expected to start opposite Houston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole at Nationals Park on Sunday. However, Martinez said the three-time Cy Young winner woke up "in a bad place," and was "really upset about it," according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

Right-hander Joe Ross will get the start in his place with the Fall Classic knotted up 2-2.

Ross made his 2019 postseason debut out of the bullpen during Game 3, throwing a pair of shutout innings while allowing one hit. The 26-year-old right-hander owns the fifth-worst career ERA of any starter in history to be tabbed with a World Series start, according to Elias.

Scherzer, 35, was able to meet with reporters but was in visible pain on the podium and was barely able to turn his body to see those who were asking him questions, according to Rivera.

"I woke up this morning completely locked up," Scherzer said, according to Scott Miller of Bleacher Report. "I couldn't even dress myself. I had to have my wife help me.

"I'm as disappointed as I possibly could be," he added, according to Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated. "This is literally impossible to do anything with."

Scherzer was given a cortisone shot earlier Sunday, according to MASN's Byron Kerr. He hopes it'll take effect and return him to normal within 48 hours.

The Nationals still plan to start Stephen Strasburg in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park, and it's unclear whether Scherzer would be able to return for Game 7, if necessary, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Scherzer, for his part, is "hopeful" that he'd be able to pitch in a potential Game 7, according to Sportsnet's Arash Madani.