Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 25
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 07: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 07, 2019 in New York City. Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets 12-9. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 07: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 07, 2019 in New York City. Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets 12-9. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

11. Max Scherzer

By the third or fourth season of a massive contract for a starting pitcher, most MLB teams are starting to feel a touch of buyer’s remorse. That is not the case with the Washington Nationals and Max Scherzer, who is now in the fifth year of his seven-year mega-deal and looks as dominant as ever. It’s a testament to how good the right-hander has been that the Nationals are already looking at surplus value on a $210-million contract for a pitcher.

In his first four full years with the Nationals, all Scherzer has done is post a 68-32 record with a 2.71 ERA. He has led all pitchers with nine complete games, four of them shutouts, two of them no-hitters and one of them a 20-strikeout gem. He has led the league in strikeouts and WHIP three years in a row and struck out 300 for the first time last year. Scherzer has also won two NL Cy Young awards and finished second last year after Jacob deGrom turned in one of the most dominant seasons in MLB history.

There’s no topping Scherzer’s level of continued dominance and durability. He has only been on the disabled list once in his career (and even that neck injury that may or may not have flared up after hitting a home run). Scherzer took some heat early in his career for failing to pitch deep into games with the Detroit Tigers, but it is paying off now as he works on his seventh straight season with 200-plus innings pitched. He is 1-3 this season but is striking out a career high 12.4 per-nine with a career low 1.1 walks per nine.

Home/MLB