Max Scherzer nearing career and team highs for strikeouts (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

September 23, 2015, 11:31am

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Right-hander Max Scherzer makes his second start of the season against the Orioles tonight. Scherzer nearly threw a complete game in Baltimore on July 12, leaving with two outs in the ninth after Adam Jones' second homer. Drew Storen came on to close out a 3-2 win for the Nationals in the final game before the All-Star break.

Scherzer is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last two starts, both wins for the Nationals over the Marlins. His 237 strikeouts are second highest in the National League to the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (272). With 16 more strikeouts, Scherzer will pass his single-season high of 252 accomplished last year with the Tigers. Six more strikeouts for Scherzer will also carry him past Stephen Strasburg (242 in 2014) for the Nationals' single-season high.

The Orioles send Chris Tillman to the mound. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 7.76 ERA over his last six starts. Baltimore has won all four of Tillman's career starts against the Nationals, but he has never earned the victory while posting a 4.37 ERA.

Jayson Werth's career-best 29-game on-base streak ended last night. Werth slashed .298/.403/.588 with eight homers, nine doubles, 19 walks, 20 RBIs and 23 runs scored over the stretch.

For the Nationals:

2B Anthony Rendon
3B Yunel Escobar
RF Bryce Harper
LF Jayson Werth
1B Clint Robinson
SS Ian Desmond
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Max Scherzer

For the Orioles:

CF Gerardo Parra
3B Manny Machado
1B Chris Davis
LF Steve Pearce
C Matt Wieters
2B Jonathan Schoop
RF Ryan Flaherty
SS J.J. Hardy
RHP Chris Tillman