Triple-A batters had provided little opposition thus far for Diamondbacks righthander Max Scherzer, so Arizona called him up for Sunday’s game, reportedly to pitch in relief. He had been scheduled to start for Tucson on Sunday.

Righthander Yusmeiro Petit was called upon for 2 1/3 innings of relief Saturday, and that day’s starter, righthander Micah Owings, left the game after injuring his ankle while running the bases. Because Scherzer, 23, had been a starter with Tucson, but seems well-suited to a big league relief role, he could conceivably fill either void, if needed.

It’s hard to imagine a pitcher getting off to a better start than Scherzer has with the Sidewinders. Of the 82 Pacific Coast League batters to oppose him, a league-leading 38 have struck out (46 percent), three have walked (four percent), one was hit by a pitch and just 12 have reached via a hit (.146 average). Fresno’s Justin Leone took Scherzer deep on Tuesday, providing the only blemish on the righthander’s register.  

Scherzer, who has gone 0-0, 1.17 in 23 innings in part because Tucson sports a PCL-worst 4-19 record, also spent a week atop our Prospect Hot Sheet, at the conclusion of the season’s second week.

Drafted 11th overall from Missouri in 2006, Scherzer took nearly a year to sign, before inking a major league deal with Arizona last May 31.