Scherzer taking Nats to next level

It seemed as though the Nationals were taking a big risk when signing free agent Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210 million contract this offseason. The questions surrounding the monumental deal weren't necessarily about whether Scherzer was worth the money, but rather how he would affect a Nats team that already had the best record in baseball over the past three seasons and the game's most imposing starting rotation. There were also doubts about how paying an outsider boatloads of money would affect the mentality of a clubhouse filled with four prominent upcoming free agents, including two of its starting pitchers.

Any such skepticism seems laughable now.

A case could be made that Scherzer is the game's best pitcher right now. Beyond that though, he has not only been embraced in the locker room, but also seems to lead it. That is quite impressive for a guy who just met most of these guys barely three months ago when he walked into the clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium to begin spring training.

Scherzer is loaded with talent and fully equipped with a repertoire of pitches meant to leave opposing hitters confused and frustrated. In addition, he brings a high level of intensity to the mound with that extra bit of edge and attitude that clearly spills over onto the rest of the team.

Sure, Bryce Harper has been phenomenal throughout the first two months of the season. But, consider what the 22-year-old has done at the plate in the nine starts Scherzer has made this year: seven homers and 12 RBIs.

Scherzer is a difference maker.

"His mentality," Harper said. "Throughout the whole thing, he's got one of the best mentality's out there on the bump. He's always fighting, always scratching and trying to do what he can do to help this team win if that's in the box or if that's on the mound. He's unbelievable out there and it's fun to watch. I mean truly, it's a blast to be behind."

In eight of the nine times Scherzer has taken the hill this season, he's given his team at least seven innings pitched. His 64 2/3 innings pitched are second in the majors behind only Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto. It's something that Scherzer focuses on accomplishing in every outing.

"A lot ... because you can give your bullpen some rest and just go out there and compete as long as you can," Scherzer said. "That's why I love being a starting pitcher, and I love going out there and giving you everything I got. When I can go deep into a game, it helps the ballclub even more, and that's something I take pride in."

Scherzer played briefly for Nationals manager Matt Williams in the minors when both were in the Diamondbacks organization. Williams has seen Scherzer's game transform, allowing him to pitch much deeper in games.

"An early Max, early in his career we would find him at 100 pitches after five (innings) a lot of times, but he's developed into someone that can throw the breaking ball for a strike, get into a count early, get ahead and then go to work," Williams said. "(He) doesn't have to rely on the fastball necessarily to do so."

Williams was one of baseball's best hitters during his 17-year career, once bombing 43 homers in a season and driving in 142 runs in another. So, he can evaluate Scherzer through his highly accomplished batter's eye."

"He's got all four pitches that he's able to throw for strikes," Williams said. "That's key for any pitcher I think. If you have four pitches you can throw for a strike at any time, as a hitter I would know that I just couldn't sit on something, or I'd find myself behind in the count."

Scherzer attempted to explain his progression after surrendering just one run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts over eight innings in last night's 2-1 victory, his fourth straight win.

"There's nothing really that I'm learning over the years, it's just that I have more feel for my off-speed pitches, that I'm able to throw them even when I'm behind in the count. 1-0, 2-0, I can throw off-speed pitches in those counts, and I can still keep them off-balance when they're ahead in the count. When I'm able to do that, it allows me to still keep them guessing, keep them missing and avoid some long ABs. And when you avoid those, those 9-,10-pitch at-bats, that's what allows you to pitch deep into game.

"And also, when you prevent walks, I only had one walk tonight, so I'd say that's pretty good. When you minimize you're walks, that also allows you to pitch deep into games. So, those two things combined is consistently why I'm pitching deep into games this year."

Scherzer has only walked nine batters all season while striking out 72. In his nine starts, he's allowed a grand total of 12 earned runs registering for a 1.67 ERA, the fourth best mark in the majors. And, opponents have managed a lowly .199 batting average against him.

There is certainly a long way to go, but Scherzer may be the one to help the Nats unlock the safe where the trophies are stored.