It has been well-documented thus far that the Mets’ season has not gone as they expected it to. Heading into the final game of the series against the Brewers on Thursday, there were rumblings regarding the possibility of the game’s starting pitcher Max Scherzer and his future with the Mets. Given the team’s uncompetitiveness, there’s been speculation (first noted by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo) that Scherzer could waive his no-trade clause.
All that aside, Scherzer had to focus on what was in front of him for his start against the Brewers. He started off very well, as his first three innings were smooth sailing with three strikeouts and a pair of hits and walks.
After receiving a pair of runs of support in the bottom of the third inning by means of back-to-back home runs from Brett Baty and Brandon Nimmo, Scherzer struck out three batters in the fourth inning. He found similar success in the fifth inning, as he struck out a batter while only allowing one hit.
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In an unsurprising development, Scherzer was once again engaged in an animated conversation with an umpire. After the fourth inning, he and Ron Kulpa talked for an extended period of time. While some fans may have worried about another foreign substance ejection, Scherzer said after the game that the topic was about the rules surrounding the PitchCom device.
Kulpa told Scherzer that he was technically coming set when pitching from the stretch and pressing the button on the device while on the mound. Scherzer will likely keep this information in mind and make any necessary adjustments as he goes forward with his season.
The sixth inning is where Scherzer hit a bump on the road. After allowing a single to Rowdy Tellez and striking out Brian Anderson, Scherzer allowed a moonshot to catcher Victor Caratini that traveled 415 feet with an exit velocity of 104.3 mph. Fortunately for Scherzer, the damage was limited to the home run, as he was able to navigate through the rest of the inning without allowing any additional runs.
Although Scherzer had a solid outing, his perfectionist attitude left him with more to be desired. After the game, he said, “I’m accountable for those two runs. You wish you would’ve gotten a zero up there.” With the precarious position of the team, there is little room for error, and it is refreshing to see Scherzer acknowledge the importance of striving for perfection.
This would be his last inning, and he exited in a tie game with a final line of six innings pitched, two earned runs allowed, and nine strikeouts. He would receive a no-decision, as the Mets went on to lose the game. Scherzer’s third consecutive quality start serves as a positive trend for his performance after his poor outings against the Braves and Yankees earlier this month.
Starting pitchers failing to receive adequate run support has been a common theme during this series. Scherzer was very blunt about the issues that need to be corrected going forward when he was asked how the Mets could have a better second half.
“Play better,” he said. “Hitters need to hit. Pitchers need to pitch. Fielders need to field.” This quote encapsulates the Mets’ recent struggles, as it seems like something always goes wrong on any given night. This time, it was the lack of offensive production that resulted in the loss.
