BALTIMORE — Back in the early mornings and snoozy environment of spring training, Washington Nationals reliever Matt Thornton was still learning about Max Scherzer. The two had worked out together in the offseason for four or five years. Thornton knew of the competitiveness and pranks. He had not seen Scherzer in the same clubhouse on game day, when he alters from cut-up to nostril-flaring hurler, until they teamed up.
“I saw him in the training room a few hours before [a start] and he was joking around, talking, being his same self,” Thornton said in March. “Then, like he came in from warming up and it was right through everybody. Wasn’t talking, nothing. I asked him [afterward], ’When do you turn the switch?’ He just said, ’You’ll know.’ That’s all he said. He wouldn’t clarify it any further. He just said, ’You’ll know.”
Through 18 first-half starts, everything Scherzer is about has been displayed. Perceived weight from a massive $210 million contract has not influenced him. Self-pressure was sufficient prior to the payment, and it has remained so. He runs the bases as if it’s his sole role on the team. He talks to the batting coach about swing path. All in-house fantasy pools run through him. His chocolate syrup celebration has become an entrenched postgame proceeding.
Scherzer had not faced the Baltimore Orioles in Camden Yards since Game 1 of the 2014 American League Division Series. That night did not go well. He allowed five earned runs in 7 1/3 innings. On Sunday afternoon, Orioles all-star Adam Jones hooked a first-inning home run into the left-field stands. A hint of another boxing around by the Orioles in their fly ball-propelling park was just that. Scherzer made a mistake when he threw Jones a flat curveball. Jones hit a slider out to left field in the ninth. Between the Jones bookends, there were no other runs and almost as few chances: 8 2/3 innings, seven strikeouts, four hits and no walks for Scherzer in the Nationals’ 3-2 win.
The park has been a nuisance for him. Scherzer entered Sunday with a 4.85 ERA at Camden Yards from 2012 through 2014, a three-year period that coincides with his rise in discussions about the game’s greatest pitcher. But, this year has been different for Scherzer in multiple ways. He’s returned to a reliance on his fastball and slider, increasing the usage of each for the first time since 2012. Scherzer now rarely uses his changeup. The only time he has used it less was in 2008, his rookie season with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
His walk rate has been cut in half, producing a stunning 39 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing a walk. His last walk was issued on June 14. Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett fouled off three consecutive pitches before seeing a curveball out of the strike zone. That was the game Scherzer allowed one hit to Milwaukee. He threw a no-hitter in his next outing.
Ever involved in intricacies, Scherzer has the cutter he worked on in spring still waiting to be dispatched with regularity. He threw it less than one percent of the time, according to Fangraphs.com, over the first half of the season. It was the first time in his career he’s attempted such a pitch. For the second half, particularly against National League East teams, the cutter is at the least another thing to worry about, if not a new weapon.
On Saturday night, Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams delivered the news everyone anticipated: Scherzer would pitch on Sunday, meaning he will not be available to pitch in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Around the clubhouse, it was seen as yet another selfless act from the team’s highest-paid player, initially viewed as luxury item in an already filled starting rotation.
“He was on a mission [Sunday],” Ian Desmond said. “Obviously, made a big sacrifice pitching today and not in the All-Star Game, but, you know, sometimes you’ve got to get [wins]. He took one for the team today, for sure.”
He leads the National League with 132 innings pitched and three complete games. Last season, Scherzer threw a career-high 220 1/3 innings. He is on pace to blow by that total this season. If Scherzer makes 33 starts this season, and maintains his average start of 7 1/3 innings, he will hit 240-plus innings by season’s end.
“I’m fine with the workload,” Scherzer said. “I’ve always said, ’I’m good for 110 [pitches].’ I can go up to 120 and even low 120s, if need be. It just takes a lot of work in between the starts, and that’s what I’m prepared to do and what I’ve been doing.”
What’s frightening for opposition is that Scherzer has traditionally been better in the second half. His career ERA is half a run lower after the all-star break. Scherzer’s 2.11 pre-break ERA this season leaves little room for reduction. The minuscule is all that remains to be addressed.
“I’ve done some good things here in the first half, but it’s going to be more important I do better things in the second half,” Scherzer said. “I know what it takes to win these situations to get to October and hopefully, us as a team, we’re able to play our best baseball and able to get there.”
The Nationals enter the all-star break as a patchwork first-place team. Scherzer and Bryce Harper have dragged the injury filled club to the top of the NL East with surprise help from the bench. The team hopes a flood of regulars return not long after the scheduled pause is over.
After returning from Cincinnati, a hint of October could arrive at Nationals Park in mid-July. The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers arrive for a three-game weekend series. Dynamic Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw was named to the all-star team Sunday as Scherzer’s replacement, and on Friday, they could face each other. Thornton, and everyone else, will know what to expect if that happens.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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