Max Scherzer only needed 4 innings to join prestigious group in MLB history

Max Scherzer had the Yankees swinging a missing a bunch early on Saturday, as he quickly joined a select group of pitchers.

After a down 2020 season, at least by his standards, Max Scherzer is back pitching more like a Cy Young Candidate this year (2.54 ERA through six starts entering Saturday). But as the Washington Nationals sit with a 13-15 record, the idea he could be traded in the final year of his contract has been out there.

Scherzer took the hill in the Bronx Saturday afternoon hoping to give the Nationals two straight wins over the Yankees.

Max Scherzer quickly entered elite company

Through four innings, Scherzer struck out 10 Yankee hitters among his first 12 outs. It was quickly the 100th double-digit strikeout game of his career. In the process, the Nationals ace joined some very prestigious company.

Update: Through seven innings, Scherzer had 14 strikeouts and zero walks while allowing one run on two hits.

Strikeouts are on the rise in baseball. The ball is in play less than it has ever been, pitcher velocity is borderline unbelievable and the stigma attached to striking out for hitters is practically gone. But anytime someone puts their name on a strikeout-related list with Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, it’s something, and Scherzer has done it.

Scherzer struck out at least 240 batters in seven straight seasons from 2013-19, including three straight seasons (2016-18) leading the NL and two seasons where he also led MLB (284 strikeouts in 2016, 300 strikeouts in 2018). He has led a league, or all of baseball, in K/9 rate three times and he has led the NL (or all of baseball) in strikeout-to-walk ratio four times. In four straight seasons before this one, he posted a K/9 of at least 12.0.

Scherzer is one of the top strikeout pitchers of his or any era, and he has combined it with great command to be unhittable at times. Saturday is just the most recent example.