New York Mets' Max Scherzer pulls himself from start with left side discomfort

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The Mets said that Max was removed from his start because of left side pain.

The team said he will have an exam on Thursday.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner left with two outs in the sixth and a 1-0 count on Albert Pujols. The New York bench was told by the pitcher that he was done with the two runners on.

Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, manager Buck Showalter and a trainer came out of the dugout to visit the pitcher. The right-handed pitcher walked off the field after a brief discussion.

The hometown team had a 6-2 lead against the pitcher, who threw 61 of his 87 pitches for strikes. Adam Ottavino was given all the time he needed to warm up, and he struck out Pujols to end the first.

In the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves last year, the tired arm of Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer was the reason he was unable to make his last scheduled start. His first start for the Mets was pushed back a day because of a hamstring issue that happened late in spring training, but he has been healthy since signing a three-year, $130 million contract with New York.

The Mets are off to a great start this year, but ace Jacob deGrom will not be back until at least late June or July. Tylor Megill went on the injured list on Sunday with a right bicep inflammation.

The report was contributed to by the Associated Press.