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Nationals: Takeaways from Max Scherzer’s 20 Strikeout Performance

By Matt Weyrich

May 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) is doused with water after striking out an MLB record 20 batters against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) is doused with water after striking out an MLB record 20 batters against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals
May 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) celebrates with catcher Wilson Ramos (40) after recording the final out against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Scherzer Stands Alone in Nationals History

Since Max Scherzer joined the Nats prior to the 2015 season, he has made 41 starts in a D.C. uniform. Among those starts, the St. Louis native has two-hitters, a 16 strikeout one-hitter, and a 20 strikeout performance. He has struck out 15 or more hitters on three separate occasions, while the rest of the Nationals organization has managed just one (Tanner Roark, 2016).

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Although a player cannot typically live up to a massive contract during their first two years on the team, Scherzer is giving it his best effort. Forget the homers, who can argue with the success he’s had on the mound these last two years? He is proving again and again that he was well worth the money, and then some.

Max had the second most strikeouts in the league last year (276), once again only behind that guy named Kershaw. His first no-hitter came within one out of a perfect game, and he struck out 17 Mets in his second. Both performances came against eventual playoff teams, leaving the door open for Nats fans to imagine how he’ll fare in October himself.

Next: Recap: Scherzer Ties MLB Strikeout Record

The Nationals signed Stephen Strasburg to a seven year, $175 million contract extension earlier this week, solidifying the one-two punch of Scherzer/Strasburg at the top of the rotation for the foreseeable future. Lucas Giolito, the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, will be joining them soon, and Joe Ross is under team control through 2021. If that doesn’t give Nationals fans a sense of ease when it comes to the rotation, nothing will.

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