Washington Nationals-Dodgers Game 1 NLDS Preview

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Jun 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws to the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA in 34 regular season starts)

When the Washington Nationals went out and gave Max Scherzer a seven- year contract in February of 2015, they signed him for games like today. While he didn’t throw two no-hitters like he did last season, Scherzer appears to be the Cy Young favorite in the National League this season.

This season, Scherzer led the National League in strikeouts (284), innings pitched (228.1), WHIP (0.97), and he was the only pitcher to get to 20 wins. Scherzer’s second half sample size is larger than Kershaw’s and he has been dominant.

Over his last 15 starts, Scherzer is 10-1 with a ERA of 2.86 and he has held opponents to a .207 batting average. While the 32-year-old right-hander went 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA in five starts, his .220 batting average against was the second highest he’s had in any month he’s made more than one start in.

Scherzer has appeared in 12 postseason games (ten starts) and he is 4-3 with a 3.71 ERA. Out of those 12 games, five of them were in the ALDS where he had a 3-1 record (lone loss came in Game 1 of the 2014 ALDS against Baltimore).

Against the Dodgers in his career, Scherzer is 2-4 with a 3.29 ERA in ten appearances (eight starts). If you look at the at last two seasons, he is 1-1 in three starts and has given up four runs while striking out 20 in 23 innings. That one loss last year came against Zack Greinke at Nats Park.

Now, it’s time to look at Scherzer’s performances inside the numbers:

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