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Washington Nationals Who Made The 2016 Naughty Or Nice List?

By Ricky Keeler

Apr 22, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) stands in the dugout during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) stands in the dugout during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals
Jul 4, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws to the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Max Scherzer

Scherzer was on the nice list last season and there’s no reason that he shouldn’t stay on the nice list after the great season he had in 2016. The 32-year-old right-hander won 20 games for the second time in his Major League career (21 wins with the Tigers in 2013). In both of those seasons, Scherzer won the Cy Young.

The Washington Nationals were relatively healthy this season in terms of injuries, but Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross did spend some time on the disabled list. Due to those injuries, it was up for Scherzer to pitch at an elite level and he did just that.

During the second half of the 2016 season, Scherzer went 10-1 with a 2.86 ERA in his final 15 starts (100.2 innings) with teams having an opponents batting average of .207. In addition to wins, Scherzer led all of the National League in innings pitched (228.1 innings), strikeouts (284), and WHIP (0.97).

Now, Scherzer does give up a lot of home runs (31), but when all of his pitches are on, it’s almost as calming as watching the Yule Log for Nats fans because they know there is a chance history can happen. Last May, against his former team (the Tigers), Scherzer tied a baseball record by striking out 20 batters in a nine inning game.

In 2015, Scherzer threw two no-hitters. 2016, he had the 20 strikeout game. What does Scherzer have in store for 2017? Everyone can’t wait to find out.

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