Tigers' Scherzer twists ankle in title celebration

• Scherzer will miss his scheduled Wednesday start
• Scherzer twists ankle in title celebration
• Injury doesn't appear to be serious

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland explained to reporters this Tuesday why Max Scherzer won't start Wednesday night's season finale:

"During the on-field celebration last night, Max Scherzer suffered a slightly twisted (right) ankle and will not pitch tomorrow night."

Leyland then took questions.

Is this day-to-day?

"I think so. This is a slightly twisted ankle. It doesn't appear to be serious-serious. But it is obviously serious enough that he won't pitch tomorrow."

It was on the field?

"It was on the field during the celebration when people were jumping on the pile," Leyland said. "Somehow somebody stepped on his ankle."

Leyland didn't say who would start Wednesday. He said it wouldn't be Drew Smyly, who would have pitched instead of Scherzer if a) Scherzer's shoulder hadn't recovered enough for him to pitch and b) the Tigers had to win the game to clinch the Central title.

Now Leyland seems inclined to use pitchers he wants to keep sharp for the playoffs. So it's possible it could be an all-bullpen game, or that Anibal Sanchez could throw a few innings to stay ready.

Sanchez could be in the middle of going at least nine days between his last regular-season start (which was last Sunday) and his first start in the playoffs (which might not come until at least Game 3 next Tuesday).