Washington Nationals: 3 Nats have inside track on awards
By Brian Foley
N.L. Cy Young
Scherzer is a wrecker-of-worlds right now in the National League. While Clayton Kershaw has been the gold standard for years in the NL, Scherzer has grabbed the mantle in 2017. He is currently first among NL starters in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, WAR, and batting average against.
He also has this incredible “it-factor;” he stomps around the mound, pumping his fist, and burning holes through the poor souls standing in the batter’s box. The reigning Cy Young award winner is seemingly on no-hit watch or 20-strikeout alert in every single start (sometimes both at the same time).
Scherzer deserves the award because he is dominant on the mound, but also because he is must-see television. He is putting on a weekly spectacle that is truly extraordinary to watch. And isn’t that what sports is really about? Athletic dominance, combined with pure entertainment.
(By the way, Kershaw is still pushing Scherzer for the award, but don’t forget about Stephen Strasburg as well. He is just a hair behind those two statistically. Scherzer and Strasburg have become one of the best one-two punches in the 21st century).