Scherzer adds to arsenal since his days in Detroit

DETROIT - Max Scherzer today returns to the mound in a city where he had a lot of success with the Tigers as his Nationals look for a series win at Comerica Park.

The right-hander spent five seasons with the Tigers from 2010-2014. He went 82-35 with a 3.52 ERA in 161 starts, earning two All-Star citations and winning the Cy Young for the first time in 2013. At Comerica Park, Scherzer went 46-13.

His biggest regret was not being able to win the World Series for Detroit in 2012. The Giants swept the Tigers 4-0. Scherzer allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings in Game 4, a no-decision in a 4-3 loss in 10 innings on Oct. 28, 2012 at Comerica Park.

"It's always hard to nail it down to one because we had such a great run here," Scherzer said. "We made it to the World Series. We had some unbelievable teams here, some really unbelievable postseason series across the years here. I think it was just a time with everybody here and the relationships we had with all the other players. We had such a good clubhouse here. Those are the things that you remember."

With the Nationals, Scherzer has put up great numbers, too, going 75-37 with a 2.68 ERA. He has won a Cy Young in D.C. twice and made four more All-Star appearances. He has even thrown a pair of no-hitters for the Nats.

"In a lot of different ways," Scherzer said when asked how he has grown since those Tigers years. "I strive to get better every single year. As I've gone on to Washington, I've continue to add to my arsenal. Continued to work with our coaches and our catchers. The different guys that have come through in my time in Washington, I've continued to grow as well. I'm very fortunate to have good teammates, good coaches in Washington and the process is never ending."

Today he will also get the chance to face his old buddy, Miguel Cabrera, who is 1-for-5 (.200) with one walk and three strikeouts in six at-bats against him.

"That's what you dream of," Scherzer said. "You dream to face the best. He's been our best hitter in our generation. What he can do with a baseball bat is just absolutely unbelievable. When you face somebody like that, you have to bring absolutely everything you got because of the talent he can do. He's pulverized baseballs everywhere across this world. He's fun one to compete against."

As for facing the Tigers, will it have special significance because he's played here so many times?

"No. I wouldn't say there's anything more on the line because every single time you step on the mound, you have to bring your A-game," Scherzer said. "These are major league hitters. They are game planning against you. They're trying everything they can to knock you out of the game. You have to match that intensity every single time you step on the mound. For me, it's business as usual."

But many baseball fans wonder what drives a pitcher as good as Scherzer to win and strive for a title. Scherzer said 2012 is the motivation that fuels his fire today.

"That's honestly one of my biggest ... it feels like a big regret, that we weren't able to deliver a World Series championship here," Scherzer said. "I've been talking with Aníbal (Sánchez) about it. We all kick ourselves, like how did we not win the World Series while we were here?

"The teams that we had here, especially in that three-year run between '12, '13, '14 - I mean, you play the games of 'What if?' still to this day," Scherzer said. "That's what also keeps me motivated. We failed in some ways, in our ways, even though we had great teams in our eyes. We did a lot of great things, but we didn't win the whole thing.

"You do have to see it as a failure in some ways because it helps keep me motivated. That's what helps motivate me to push myself every single day, to try to win a World Series. That's what I work to play the game for, so that's what keeps you going."

Scherzer takes on former Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann today, who has his own unique memories of his time in D.C.