Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Max Scherzer made an appearance at the podium Wednesday as Mets pitchers and catchers reported to Port St. Lucie at the start of spring training.

After his 2022 season ended up marred with oblique injuries, Scherzer made sure to note that he has a goal of pitching 200 innings in 2023. While he didn’t note if that was just in the regular season or also included potential postseason appearances, 200 innings would be a hefty increase from his 2022 load. Scherzer ended the year with exactly 150 innings between the regular season and playoffs.

He’s tossed at least 200 innings (regular season and postseason) every non-COVID season from 2011 to 2019, then was a few innings shy of that mark in 2021. (He pitched a fully healthy season in 2020, as well.)

The Mets ace ended up missing around eight weeks—around 10 starts—due to injuries to his oblique. The first injury, Scherzer says, was due to him pitching through tightness “and I didn’t say anything.” The second injury, which caused him to miss just two weeks (he threw six perfect innings against the Brewers upon his return) “came out of nowhere.” Scherzer said he spent time this offseason diagnosing why that second injury happened, and he’s implemented new workouts to make sure oblique injuries aren’t a problem this season. “You gotta figure yourself out in order to be durable,” he said, noting it’s a “fun” challenge to find ways to keep himself healthy.

Aside from his injuries, Scherzer talked about a couple of other topics in his press conference:

  • He thinks the pitch clock will work to his favor. Known as a pitcher who often works quickly anyway, Scherzer said hitters calling timeout have slowed him down at times. That will be less of a problem this season.
  • Scherzer had a message for young players: “When you walk through those doors, make sure you know what you’re here for,” noting that those who focus on winning and team unity will see their contracts and financial success come after.
  • He says he talked to Jacob deGrom multiple times after he signed with the Texas Rangers. “I think the world of him. When he’s on the mound,” he said, “never seen anything like it.”

Though Buck Showalter did not name Scherzer as the Opening Day starter for the team on March 30, it’s clear that after just a year, the 38-year-old is the leader of this pitching staff.