Today is pitching great Max Scherzer's birthday. Today, Mad Max turns forty and is officially old; just kidding (though for a major leaguer....)
Scherzer was drafted 11th overall in the 2006 June Amateur Draft by the Diamondbacks. He would debut with Arizona two years later and post a 3.05 ERA in just over 56 innings.
In 2010 Scherzer moved over to the Tigers. He pitched five years in Detroit, accumulating an 82-35 record and 3.52 ERA. He won the Cy Young award in 2013, and his team came up just short in winning the World Series in 2012.
Max Scherzer signed in free agency with the Washington Nationals in January of 2015. He would go on to play 6 2/3 seasons with Washington, in that time grabbing 92 wins and an ERA of 2.80. He won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2016 and 2017, and his first World Series ring in 2019, helping the Nats to their first ever Fall Classic victory.
At the trade deadline in 2021, Scherzer was shipped off to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where in 11 regular season starts, Max went 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA. In the 2021 NLDS, he acquired his first-ever save, striking out Giants' Wilmer Flores on an atrocious call to end the game.
Max signed in free agency with the Mets for the 2022 season. He pitched the full season there, going 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA in 23 starts. He was 37 at the time.
Max had a 4.01 ERA in 19 starts before being traded to the Rangers in 2023 for Luisangel Acuna (brother of Ronald Acuna Jr). He would go on to win a second World Series and help Texas to their first championship in 60+ years of existence. So far in 2024, Mad Max has a 2-3 record and 3.57 ERA in seven starts.
There is talk of Scherzer being traded yet again this season with the struggles of the Rangers. We'll see soon enough.
Fun fact, did you know that this 2024 Topps Max Scherzer card is an error card? See for yourself:
It says Max was acquired by the Rangers from a trade with the Rangers. Subtle mistake.
So happy birthday Max Scherzer! And congrats, for on his last start Scherzer struck out career batter 3400. He is now tenth all time on the K list.
And as for all of you, thanks for reading, have a great weekend and happy collecting!
P.S. And Max has two different colored eyes. His right eye is blue and his left brown. I'm sure you've noticed this, but it's interesting nonetheless. And broadcasters love mentioning it too.
He was on the Mets which means ofc he’s good
ReplyDeleteScherzer is intense. Love that kind of ballplayer.
ReplyDeleteThere’s no question as to whether he’s talented or not, it’s just his health seems to always be a problem lately. I have to say this was a great post, the step-by-step summary of Scherzer’s career was perfect.
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