New York Mets to put ace pitcher Max Scherzer on 15-day IL

The New York Mets will place ace pitcher Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list in the latest hit to a reeling club that has seen its NL East lead evaporate.

Mets manager Buck Showalter told reporters Wednesday that Scherzer still is experiencing irritation in his left side.

Scherzer, 38, left his most recent start last Friday after only five innings because of fatigue in his left side. The three-time Cy Young Award winner said this past weekend that he expected to make his next scheduled start Friday against the Marlins.

The Mets (85-51) have lost five of their last eight games, including three straight against the last-place Nationals and Pirates. New York owned a 10.5-game NL East lead on June 1, but enter Wednesday's doubleheader in Pittsburgh tied with the surging Braves (85-51) atop the division standings.