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WASHINGTON – A new step for Max Scherzer.
The Washington Nationals registered its 300th withdrawal Tuesday night. The benchmark came in the top of the seventh inning, when Scherzer allowed Austin Dean, the Miami Marlins rookie, to swing on a 3-2 slider that ended a 10-throw stick.
The 34-year-old right-handed has become the 17th pitcher since 1900 to catch 300 batters in one season and the fifth pitcher since 2000, joining Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale. Prior to that year, Scherzer's career record was 284 strikeouts during a campaign in 2016 where he had tied a major league record by stoking 20 Detroit Tigers in a single start.
He finished Tuesday's game with a total of 10 strikeouts, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings.
The 300 withdrawals of Scherzer are the most important of the National League and 41 more than New York Mets righty Jacob deGrom. He will join Johnson and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in the division to lead the league in four consecutive seasons.
Scherzer is also looking to win his third consecutive Cy Young Award. He is considered one of the top three competitors, with deGrom and Aaron Nola of the Phillies. Although Scherzer (17-7) and Nola (16-6) hold a large lead over deGrom (9-9) in the victories, the Mets lead the Netherlands with an ERA of 1.77 at his last Departure Wednesday – more than a half run lower than anyone else.
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