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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 20: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals on the mound in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Nationals defeated the Dodgers 5-2. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Max Scherzer
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 20: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals on the mound in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Nationals defeated the Dodgers 5-2. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Max Scherzer /

11. Max Scherzer

Of the $200-million pitching contracts handed out since Clayton Kershaw became the first to top that mark, only Max Scherzer’s looks like a worthy investment. Kershaw will opt out of his this winter (or sign an extension before), while David Price and Zack Greinke’s deals already look like sunk costs. Scherzer’s innings were managed well in his early career, and the Washington Nationals are reaping the rewards now.

Now in his fourth year with the Nats, Scherzer has already won two Cy Youngs, thrown two no-hitters, logged a 20-strikeout game, turned in an immaculate inning and recorded three games with a game score over 100. This is exactly what the Nationals expected when they signed Scherzer for seven years and $210 million.

Scherzer is building a very strong Hall of Fame case for himself. Through seven starts in 2018, he has a career record of 147-76 with a 3.26 ERA and three Cy Youngs and five All-Star berths. He has not finished outside of the top five in a Cy Young vote since winning his first in 2012 and barring injury should finish first or second this year. Scherzer is 6-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 45.1 innings this year and has 65 strikeouts.

The last big individual accomplishment missing for Scherzer is a 300-strikeout season, but he is on pace to blow that away this season. Few pitchers can match him when it comes to dominant stuff and ability to command all over the strike zone. Scherzer is a threat to throw a perfect game or strike out 20 every time he takes the mound.

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