Mets right-hander Max Scherzer is expected to start Sunday or Monday against the Nationals after throwing a bullpen session Friday.

Scherzer, who was scratched from his start Tuesday against Cincinnati because of neck spasms, threw about 30 pitches before the opener of a four-game series against one of his former teams.

"That was encouraging," manager Buck Showalter said. "The earliest he would pitch is Sunday. We'll see how he feels tomorrow. He had a pretty extensive work day, which is something he hasn't been able to do. I could just tell by his face he's upbeat about it."