Max Scherzer: The Mets Years (2022 - 2023)

Maxwell Martin Scherzer was born July 27th, 1984, in Chesterfield Missouri a St. Louis suburb. He grew up a Cardinals fan.

Nickname: He is known as "Mad Max. 

He is famous for his intense focus & extensive preparation to pitching. 

Two Eye Colors: Max has a condition known as heterochromia- iridium as his right eye is blue & left eye is brown.

The six foot three right-handed pitcher, began his career with Arizona (2008-2009). In December of 2009 he was involved in a blockbuster three team trade that landed him in Detroit where his career took off.

He spent five seasons in Detroit, winning the 2013 AL Cy Young Award, leading the league in wins
(21) going 21-3 & winning% (.875) He struck out 240 batters in 214 innings while posting a 2.90 ERA. The next year he led the AL in wins again (18) going 18-5 striking out 252 batters in 220 innings with a 3.15 ERA.

In Detroit he was 82-35 with a 3.52 ERA in 161 appearances.

AL Post Season Career: In Detroit he made the post season in 2011 getting to the ALCS losing to Texas. In the ALDS he beat the AL New York team & took a loss to the Rangers in the ALCS. 

In 2012 his Tigers got to their first World Series since 1984, losing to the San Francisco Giants. He took a no decision to Oakland in the ALDS then beat the AL New York team in the Game #4 sweep of the ALCS. In his first World Series he started Game #4 taking no decision in the loss.

In 2013 the Tigers returned to the post season. Scherzer won two games of the ALDS, with a win starting Game #1 & a relief win in Game #4. 

In the ALCS loss to the eventual World Champion Red Sox he pitched two games, taking a no decision in the Game #2 loss & then was the losing pitcher in the Game #6 Sox clincher.

In 2015, Scherzer signed with the Washington Nationals. In D.C. he won back-to-back Cy Young Awards (2016 & 2017). 

In 2016 he led the NL in wins (20) strikeouts (280) innings (228) starts (33) & HRs allowed (31). He also posted a 2.96 ERA. 

In 2017 he led the league in K's for the second straight year going 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA & two complete games.

No Hitter: On October 3rd, 015 he pitched a no hitter vs the NL Champion New York Mets.

In 2018 he led the NL in wins (18) for the fourth time in his career. For the third straight year, he led the league in strike outs with a career best 300 K's & led in innings (220) hit by pitches (12) as well as complete games for the second straight year with two.

He spent seven years in D.C. going 92-47 with a 2.80 ERA in 189 starts.

NL Post Season Career: Scherzer made the post season in 2016 & 2017 with the Nat's losing in the NLDS both times going 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA in four games in those two years.

In 2019 Max won his first Championship as the Nationals beat the Astros in the World Series. He was the winning pitcher in Game #4 in the NLDS win over the Dodgers. 

In Game #2 of the NLCS win over the Cardinals, he took a no hitter into the 7th inning, until Paul Goldschmidt broke it up with a base hit. Max was the winning pitcher in the 3-1 win.

2019 World Series: Max was the winning pitcher in Game #1 beating the Astros Gerit Cole. He was scheduled to start Game 35 but was scratched due to back spasms. In the final Game #7, Max pitched five innings allowing two runs exiting the game down 2-0. 

But the Nationals put up six runs the rest of the way to win the World Series.

In 2021 he began the year at
Washington. 

100th Double Digit Strike Out Game: On May 8th he struck out 14 AL New Yorkers making it the 100th time in his career he reached ten or more strike outs in a game, making him just the fifth pitcher to do so.

In July was traded along with Trea Turner to the Dodgers for the post season run. He wasn't as effective in the post season as his arm was worn out. 

2021 Post Season: In the NLDS he took a 1-0 Game #3 loss, giving up a HR to Evan Longoria. He then earned a save in the 2-1 Game #5 win over the Giants. In the NLCS loss to the Braves he got no decision in Game #2 loss allowing two runs in 4.1 innings. He was to start Game#6 but was scratched due to arm soreness.

Mets Career: In the off season, he signed on with the New York Mets for a record $130 million three year deal He joined another future Hall of Famer, multi- Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom on the Mets staff. There was a lot of hype & excitement as they were being called the best 1-2 combo in baseball. 

Although the Mets were in first place most of the season Max & Jacob weren't in the rotation too often due to injuries, mostly to deGrom missing time.

Trivia: Since the Mets had retired #37 & #31 Max took on uniform #21.

April 8th, 2022: Max Scherzer made his Mets debut in the second game of the 2022 season, pitching against his former team the Washington Nationals in D.C. It was the first time he pitched there as a visiting pitcher. In his debut, Max went six innings, allowing three runs, a 4th inning two run HR to Josh Bell being the biggest hit he gave up on the day. Scherzer struck out six & walked one on the day, earning his first Mets victory.

On April 13th, in Philadelphia. He was even better, although he pitched just five innings, he struck out seven, allowing just one run, on five hits, while walking three. The Mets scored nine runs; Pete Alonso homered & drove in five runs on the night. Brandon Nimmo also homered as Scherzer went to 2-0.

Citi Field Debut: On Tuesday April 19th, Scherzer made his Citi Field debut. It came in the second game of a Tuesday double header against the San Francisco Giants. The Mets won the opener 5-4 on a Francisco Lindor Walk off base hit.

In the nightcap, Scherzer delighted the Mets fans, as he struck out ten, allowing just a run & one

hit through seven innings. He struck out two batters in the 1st inning, 2nd inning & again in the 6th inning.  The Mets went on to a 3-1 win as well as another double header sweep.

In Scherzer's fourth Mets start, he went up against Mike Mikolas in St. Louis. Both pitchers shut out their opponents for seven innings, with Mikolas giving the Mets four hits. Scherzer made it back-to-back starts with double figures in strike outs, as he struck out ten. He only allowed two hits & walked just one, lowering his ERA to 1.80. 

Scherzer got a no decision as the Mets scored five runs in the 9th inning, after being down 2-0 entering that last inning. He closed out April 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA 32 strike outs seven walks in 25 innings pitched.

On May 4th, Max & the Mets hosted the Phillies on Sunday Night Baseball. On this night, he served up three HRs, two long balls to Kyle Schwaber & another to Bryce Harper. But the Mets 15 hit attack, led by Starling Marte's three RBIs won if for New York 10-6. 

For Scherzer he allowed the most runs on the year with four, on just five hits in six innings. He notched another nine strike outs on the year. The only other Mets pitcher to have more strike outs in their first starts (42) is Pedro Martinez (46).

As the Mets went to Philadelphia, Max got his next start the next week in the first of another twin
bill. Here he took his first loss, as he gave up three runs on ten hits, with seven K's. In this game Bryce Harper homered again.

On Friday the 13th of May, the Seattle Mariners came to Citi Field, for a rare match up. Max & Marco Gonzales went at it in a pitcher's duel, with a 1-1 tie through seven innings. The Mariners won the game as Drew Smith took the loss in relief. Max struck out six more, allowing just three hits & a walk.

Oblique Injury: On May 18th, In the top of the 6th inning, Max signaled to the Mets dugout to take him out of the game. He had allowed just one earned run on seven hits, leaving with a 6-2 lead. The Mets went on to an 11-4 win, with Max getting credit for the victory.

 If Scherzer took himself out of a game, being the competitor he is, everyone knew the news would not be good. The next day tests showed an oblique strain, an injury that would sideline him for at least six to eight weeks.

In his first eight Mets starts through May 18th, he is 5-1 (most wins in the NL) with a 2.54 ERA 59 strike outs (2nd in the NL) 11 walks in 49.2 innings of work in 8 starts (1st in the NL).

Scherzer returned on July 5th, at the time the Mets were in first place with a 2.5 game lead over Atlanta. In his return, Max picked up where he left off. He shut out the Reds for six innings in Cincinnati, striking out a season high 11 batters while allowing just two hits. He took no decision as the Mets were shut out 1-0 by five Reds pitchers.

On July 11th, he pitched a big game in Atlanta, giving up just one run to the Braves over seven innings. He fanned nine giving up just four hits earning his sixth win (6-2) holding a 2.15 ERA. The Mets took two of three in the series keeping 2.5 games lead up on Atlanta.

From there he took a no decision & a loss before pitching seven shutout innings in the subway series. 

38th Birthday Milestone: On July 27th, his 38th birthday, he became the first pitcher to toss seven innings on his birthday at 38 years old or older. In that game he took no decision in the Mets win as Starling Marte won the game at Citi Field with a walk off single scoring Eduardo Escobar.

In August Max won three straight games, beating the Nationals in D.C then beating the Braves twice. On August 6th he shut out Atlanta in "the battle of the Max's" as he beat Max Fried, allowing four hits over seven innings matching his season high 11 K's. The Mets swept the series at Citi Field & were riding high on a six-game win streak, with a six-game lead over Atlanta at the conclusion of the three-game set.

In Atlanta although he gave up four runs, three Mets HRs including two from Starling Marte led the Mets to a 9-7 win. The Mets salvaged one game of the series as their lead fell to 3.5 games.

On August 22nd, he gave up a season high four runs in back-to-back starts taking a loss in a subway series game. In that game he recorded his 3155th career strike out, passing Pedro Martinez for 13th on the All Time Strike out list.

On August 28th, he gave up just a run, but the Mets were shut out by the Rockies German Marquez (7 innings) Carlos Estevez & Daniel Bard.

From there he was back on the IL missing a month of action until mid-September. 

200th Career Win & Playoff Clincher: On September 19th, Max won his first game in a month, as he no-hit the Brewers in Milwaukee pitching six perfect innings, while striking out nine. Pete Alonso led the offense with his 36th HR of the season. 

The win kept the Mets in first place clinging to a one game lead during a six-game win streak. It also clinched them a playoff spot in their first post season since 2016.

On September 25th, Max won his last game of the season, beating the A's in Oakland for his 11th victory. In the disastrous Mets series in Atlanta where they were swept in three games, Scherzer took a loss in the second game. He surrendered HRs to Dansby Swanson & Matt Olson, giving up a season high matching four runs.

The Mets finished the season tied with Atlanta but were the wild card team.

2.29 ERA (sixth best in the majors). His ERA was the best ever by a Mets pitcher in their first season with the team (with 140 innings or more).

2022 Post Season- NLWC Series: Scherzer got the start in the Wild Card opener at Citi Field vs. the San Diego Padres. It was his worst outing of the year as he gave up four HRs to San Diego, the most any Mets pitcher has ever allowed in a post season game. 

He gave up seven runs in just 4.2 innings as the Mets took the opening game loss. They would lose the series in three games, ending a disappointing season that had high expectations just a month ago.

In the off season the Mets signed another veteran future Hall of Famer in Justin Verlander. But
the two would not help the Mets in what was a Very disappointing season. They would both be gone by August & pitching against each other in the ALCS. 

2023 Season: On Opening Day, Scherzer was the winning pitcher in South Florida beating the Marlins for his first win. In his next start he was hit up for five runs in Milwaukee, including three Brewers HRs by Garrett Mitchell, Brian Anderson & Rowdy Tellez. The three HRs were a season high; he would match it later in the year while with Texas.

On April 10th, he threw five shutout innings at Citi Field, allowing just one hit to the Padres in his second victory of the year.

Ejected From Game: On Wednesday April 19th in a matinee at Dodger Stadium, umpire Phil Cuzzi told Scherzer his hand & glove were to sticky from the rosin. He washed his hands & used a new glove. In the bottom of the 4th, Cuzzi noticed stickiness on Scherzer's hand & told home plate umpire Dan Bellino to inspect. 

Bellino ejected Mx from the game saying: "it was far more than we had seen before on a pitcher in live action."

Quotes- Max Scherzer: "He said my hands were too sticky I said Phil that's sweat & rosin. I'd have to be an absolute idiot to use anything else".

The Mets won the game 5-3 as Brandon Nimmo led the way with five hits, a HR & two RBIs.

On May 3rd, Scherzer returned to Detroit & gave up a season high six earned runs, including two more HRs in an 8-1 Mets loss. His ERA was not in its usual Scherzer range at a high 5.56.

Six Game Win Streak: From May 14th to July 4th, he won six straight decisions, going 6-0 with a 3.45 ERA in that time. He struck out 74 batters & walked ten in 60 innings of work. In five of those wins he allowed two runs or less each time. In victories at Washington, Colorado, Houston & Philadelphia at Citi Field he allowed just one run each time pitching at least five innings or more each time. 

At that time Scherzer was the winningest pitcher on the Mets staff at 8-5 one more win than Kodi Senga, although the team was struggling seven games under .500. 

On June 7th, he struck out a season high ten batters in a no decision at Atlanta. It was the 111th time Scherzer had double figures in strikeouts, passing Pedro Martinez for third on the all-time list in that category.

In July he gave up five runs in starts at San Diego & Boston, taking losses each time. On July 16th, he shut out the Dodgers on one hit over seven innings of work at Citi Field. The game went into extra innings tied at one, until Luis Guillorme won it with a walk off double off Nick Robertson.

On July 28th, he made what was his last start as a Mets pitcher. It came at Citi Field where he pitched well, giving up just one run in seven innings of work, striking out seven. The Mets won the game giving him his ninth win.

As the Mets were 50-55 at the trade deadline, it was apparent they had to be sellers. Max was sent to the Texas Rangers for cash & a minor leaguer.

In Texas he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA for the first place Rangers. On September 13th he was shut down for the rest of the regular season with a teres major strain.

2023 Post Season: In the ALCS with the Astros, he made his return from the IL, getting the start in Game #3 at Texas, giving up five runs taking the loss. 

In the final Game #7 he only went into the 3rd inning giving up two runs, including a HR to Alex Bregman. The Rangers exploded with four HRs, two by Adolis Garcia & went on to win the clubs first championship, the second for Scherzer.

Career Stats: In his 16-year career Max is 214-208 (92nd most wins all time) with a 3.15 ERA. He has 3367 strike outs (12th all time) with 746 walks in 2834 innings pitched in 457 games in 448 starts (87th all time). 

He won three Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles, six Pitcher of the Month Awards, pitched a no hitter & made eight All Star Games.

Family: Max met his wife Erica May at the University of Missouri. In 2013 they were married, together they have a daughter & three sons. The primarily lived in Northern Virginia & now in Jupiter Florida.