Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Max Scherzer is known for his consistent routines, and whenever something goes awry, he diligently searches for the root cause, eagerly trying to identify the source of the problem. This season, Scherzer has faced challenges with his breaking pitches, particularly his slider. Hitters haven’t found it difficult to handle his signature pitch, resulting in a .292 batting average against it leading up to Sunday’s game.
This represents a notable increase from last year’s .183 average, as reported by Baseball Savant. Additionally, Scherzer’s slider had a lower whiff rate of 32.2 percent at the start of the day, compared to his impressive 46.4 percent rate achieved last year.
Earlier in the day, the game’s start was delayed by 3 1/2 hours due to rain. The delay was further extended by an additional 20 minutes as the rain persisted. Eventually, the game commenced, and Scherzer, at 38 years old, delivered a remarkable performance reminiscent of his prime days.
In the second inning, he only allowed a single hit to outfielder Jason Heyward and went on to pitch a complete seven innings, achieving this feat for the fourth time in the current season. In his impressive rebound, the three-time Cy Young Award winner issued three walks and struck out six batters, using 97 pitches. He didn’t allow another hit after Heyward’s single. The outing lowered Scherzer’s ERA to 3.99 on the season.
“Max was the difference in the game today,” manager Buck Showalter said. “That won’t be forgotten, I know, by me. Max went through a very tough order, almost close to a fourth time around, you don’t see that out of today’s starters anymore.”
As the fifth inning unfolded, Scherzer took a moment to clean the mud from his cleats and focus on firmly planting his left foot during his slider delivery, introducing an additional element. Despite not encountering significant trouble until that point, his adjustment swiftly paid off. From then on, Scherzer skillfully retired nine out of the last ten batters he faced.
“In the first couple of innings, I was still hanging sliders and it was driving me nuts,” Scherzer noted. “I’ve been working so hard at it, trying to figure out what’s going on. But I finally figured out what I think is going on. Once I finally had some mud on my cleats, my cleats were a little bit heavier, and so I realized I wasn’t picking my foot up as high. And all of a sudden the slider was getting down.”
In the sixth inning, Scherzer maintained the lead by swiftly retiring the top of the Dodgers’ lineup. Despite already reaching a pitch count of 90, Scherzer fearlessly took the mound once more for the seventh inning. Much to everyone’s delight, he efficiently secured three outs using only seven pitches. This display of dominance provided much-needed relief for a bullpen that had previously allowed six runs in the last two games.
Scherzer has identified his grip on the ball as a key factor contributing to his struggles this season, which have been marred by injuries and suspensions. Recent outings saw him endure a challenging start, surrendering four runs in one game, followed by conceding five runs in another. As the season enters the second half, performances like the dazzling one Scherzer delivered on Sunday afternoon will be crucial for the team’s playoff aspirations. Scherzer is at the forefront, and it is his moment to showcase his value and make a difference.
