Fansided

5 best MLB performances from first half of the season

By Josh Criswell

Jun 14, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Drew Storen (22) douse chocolate syrup on pitcher Max Scherzer (31) after Scherzer pitched a complete game shutout at Miller Park. The Nationals won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Drew Storen (22) douse chocolate syrup on pitcher Max Scherzer (31) after Scherzer pitched a complete game shutout at Miller Park. The Nationals won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws to the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws to the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer will not be making an appearance in the MLB All-Star Game after taking the mound for the Washington Nationals on Sunday, but his performance up to this point in the season earned him All-Star honors and made him a no-brainer for this list.

Scherzer raised eyebrows prior to the 2014 season when he rejected a six-year, $144 million contract extension from the Detroit Tigers, opting instead to risk injury and bet on himself to repeat the dominance he displayed during his 2013 Cy Young Award-winning season.

His decision to roll the dice paid off, and landed him a seven-year, $210 million contract from the Nationals last offseason – the largest ever for a pitcher in free agency. And just past the midway point of his first season with the new club, Scherzer is not the only one reaping the benefits from this gamble.

The Nationals are currently sitting in first place in the NL East heading into the All-Star break, with their high-priced ace being a large reason why.

Through 18 appearances this year, Scherzer is having the best season of his career by far. His 2.11 earned run average is significantly lower than his career-best of 2.90, and his 10.14 strikeouts per nine innings have him in solid position to amass 250 strikeouts for the second consecutive year. His 10-7 win-loss record does not appear stellar on the surface, but is actually quite impressive when you consider that his win total ranks fourth best in all of baseball.

Did I mention that he also has a no-hitter on his 2015 résumé?

Scherzer will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to pick up his second Cy Young Award in the past three seasons, given the outstanding performances by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Zack Greinke and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gerrit Cole. Regardless, he has definitely laid the foundation to make another run at the coveted honor.

Next: Bryce Harper

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