DETROIT -- Max Scherzer wasn't making any excuses, but he very nearly didn't start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.
While warming up in the bullpen before the game, Scherzer felt a spasm in his neck.
"Max actually had a neck issue right before the game, to the point we almost scratched him," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "But he was able to get it stretched out, get it loose enough to where he could pitch.
"It affected him a little bit on his release point at times. It would come and go on certain pitches. Under the circumstances, he pitched well, considering he was almost a scratch."
Ausmus said Rick Porcello would have pitched if Scherzer hadn't been able to go.
"At the end of the day, I know my body," Scherzer said. "I knew I was capable of going, and I wanted to go. I go out there, give you everything I've got. I went out there. There's no excuses on ailments."
Scherzer was able to throw 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out four.
"Even though I almost had the results I wanted, when you come back and look over the start, you issue four walks, that's just not a recipe for success," Scherzer said.
Catcher Alex Avila said certain pitches were more affected by Scherzer's neck issue.
"Probably the change-up a little bit," Avila said. "Max, when he delivers the ball, his head really snaps down. A few times, every once in a while, you could tell he was favoring it a little bit. For the most part, he made some pretty good pitches."
The two runs came on solo homers by Cleveland's Chris Dickerson, who came into the game 0-for-9 against Scherzer.
"I was one pitch away from having a great outing," Scherzer said. "Unfortunately, I gave Dickerson two pitches, two off-speed pitches right in the middle of the zone. He's gonna capitalize.
"You tip your hat to him for doing damage against me, but I also would have liked to make better pitches to him."
Scherzer said he's had problems with a neck spasm before, but this time was worse.
Still, he doesn't believe it's a problem that will linger.
"I've got five days to take care of this," Ausmus said. "This is just a one-day thing. We got great trainers, and we'll have a program of what I need to do in the next five days to take care of it.
"Even on the worst day, I was able to pitch with it. You give it five days rest, I'll be able to go on Thursday."
The Tigers dropped the second game of the day-night doubleheader 5-2 after losing 6-2 earlier in the day.
