Nationals' Scherzer set to come off IL on Thursday

Washington Nationals ace right-hander Max Scherzer is set to return from the 10-day injured list to start Thursday against the visiting Colorado Rockies, manager Dave Martinez told reporters Tuesday. Scherzer (9-5, 2.30 ERA) suffered soreness in his middle back after he last pitched July 6 against the Kansas City Royals. He was diagnosed with inflammation in the bursa under his right shoulder and skipped the All-Star Game before going on the IL on July 13.

The three-time Cy Young winner came out of Monday's bullpen session feeling fine. "Everything feels good," he said on MLB.com. "Ball is coming out of my hand exactly the way it should feel like. I'm at 100 percent."

Scherzer is 7-0 with a 0.84 ERA over his past nine starts.