Max Scherzer sparkles on way to AL-leading 14th win

From the downbeat of the 2013 MLB season, it has been the “Max Scherzer Show” for the Detroit Tigers, and Monday night was simply a continuation of that experience in the city of Chicago.

Scherzer threw 8 highly-effective innings, allowing only 2 runs, 4 hits, and 0 walks while striking out 5 White Sox hitters. It wasn’t the “best” outing of the season for the right-hander, but it was another “ho hum” domination of an inferior opponent, and he needed only 105 pitches to cruise through 8 innings.

Of course, Scherzer had some help in the 7-3 victory, as Victor Martinez broke out of a season-long slump with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, and Torii Hunter went 2-for-5 with a home run off Chicago starter Chris Sale. Obviously, giving Scherzer 7 runs to play with is almost like stealing at this stage, and with that level of production, he’s almost a sure-fire winner.

While pitcher wins certainly aren’t the measuring stick to follow greatness on the mound, Scherzer’s 14th victory by the end of July is highly impressive. If he continues at this pace, he will soar past the 20-win plateau, and with this new-found level of consistency, we have to begin considering Scherzer among the elite pitchers in all of the Major Leagues at this stage.

Welcome to the party, Max.