CINCINNATI — Max Scherzer has been scratched from Tuesday’s start against the Reds due to neck spasms, the Mets announced.
David Peterson was called up from Triple-A and will start in Scherzer’s place.
The Mets put right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis on the 15-day IL with a left quad strain to make room for Peterson on the active roster.
Scherzer told The Post on Sunday that he was “fighting like hell” to avoid the IL as he deals with discomfort below his right scapula that surfaced before he was suspended 10 games by MLB for violating the rules on foreign substances.
Overall, Scherzer has pitched to a 5.56 ERA in five starts this season.
In his return from the suspension last Wednesday in Detroit, the right-hander lasted only 3 ⅓ innings and allowed six earned runs on eight hits with two homers allowed.
He later said he was encouraged that everything went fine physically for him during the start.
Scherzer had a similar back injury while pitching for the Nationals in 2019 that required a stint on the IL.
“Just don’t break,” Scherzer said of his goal while pitching in his current condition. “I’m trying like hell not to join the IL. I’m fighting through this and doing everything I can. But this is the big leagues and no one cares if you’re hurt. You’ve got to go out there and perform, so I get it.”
Justin Verlander returned from the IL last week after missing the first month of the season rehabbing from a strained teres major muscle.
But the Mets are still without Carlos Carrasco and Jose Quintana.
Carrasco is expected to pitch for Double-A Binghamton in a minor league rehab appearance Tuesday.
The right-hander is returning from swelling in his right elbow that was caused by a bone chip.
Quintana is out until at least July following rib surgery in spring training.
Peterson has pitched to a 7.34 ERA in five starts this season.
The left-hander earned a spot in the rotation in spring training following Quintana’s surgery, but hasn’t gotten on track, allowing at least four earned runs in four of his five starts.