RHP Scherzer, 2B Dozier rejoin Nationals

The Washington Nationals activated ace right-hander Max Scherzer from the 10-day injured list to start Thursday night on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has not pitched since July 25 due to a mild strain in his rhomboid muscle.

Scherzer, 35, is 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 134 1/3 innings this season. The Nationals also reinstated second baseman Brian Dozier from the paternity list, and they optioned right-hander Kyle McGowin and infielder Adrian Sanchez to Double-A Harrisburg.

Dozier, 32, enters play Thursday batting .236 with 19 homers and 45 RBIs in 115 games this season. In his last game before going on the paternity list, he was 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs on Sunday in Washington's 16-8 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. McGowin, 27, appeared in seven games (one start) for Washington this season and posted a 10.13 ERA.

Sanchez, 29, hit .241 with a walk and two runs in 26 games for the Nationals. His lone RBI came on a pinch-hit single Wednesday in Washington's 11-1 rout of the Pirates.