Max Scherzer Jokingly Chokes Bryce Harper During Pregame Handshake

A few days after Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon choked Bryce Harper in the dugout, the face of the franchise once again was getting "choked" by a teammate.

Don't worry, it was all in good fun this time.

On Sunday, Papelbon and Harper were involved in a dugout altercation during their contest with the Philadelphia Phillies. The incident included Papelbon choking Harper:

The Nationals suspended Papelbon four games for his actions. The team's suspension was tacked onto the three-game ban the league had already handed down after Papelbon threw at the Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado on Sept. 24, ending the reliever's season.

Skip ahead to Thursday. That's when Nationals ace Max Scherzer decided that the "too soon" phase had passed and jokingly choked Harper in the dugout during the club's road tilt with the Atlanta Braves.

Update: As a reader points out, Scherzer and Harper have done something like this pre-Papelbon incident.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

[MLB.com]