Fansided

5 reasons Max Scherzer has already won the NL Cy Young Award

By Connor Muldowney

Jul 2, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 2, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. He’s a strikeout master

Sitting just one strikeout off the National League leading Clayton Kershaw, Scherzer is also just two away from topping everyone in baseball. Halfway through the year, Max has struck out 139 batters and has made hitters look pretty silly for even trying to swing at his arsenal of pitches.

The single-season strikeout record will probably never be broken, as it would take an amazing year to surpass Nolan Ryan’s number of 383 strikeouts in 1973, but Max is putting up solid numbers through the month of June and starting in July as well.

Right now, Scherzer is on pace to finish the season with about 280 strikeouts which is about 30 more than his previous career-high with the Tigers.

In 16 starts this season, Scherzer has finished with over 10 strikeouts six times, more than nine strikeouts eight times and more than eight strikeouts 10 times. He knows how to get guys out by mixing his pitches and the movement on his breaking balls is just filthy.

It would be difficult to pick a guy for the Cy Young if he didn’t have nearly as many strikeouts as Scherzer with the kind of numbers he also has. At this point in the game, barring an epic collapse, no pitcher’s numbers in the NL will come close to being as impressive as Scherzer’s.

Next: 3. Misleading record

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