Max Scherzer on Sunday looked like the Max Scherzer that Washington fans cheered for over seven seasons as the ace of the Nationals’ staff — pitching his way out of jams, helping his cause with a sacrifice fly to score a runner and generally scraping and clawing his way to a win.
The big difference was he was wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform.
Scherzer’s six solid innings and his new teammates’ lively bats combined for a 14-4 Dodgers’ rout of the New York Mets on Sunday.
“I know the line score said he went six, but he actually went seven-plus — didn’t play good defense at all behind him,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts — offering up an appreciation of Scherzer that sounded eerily familiar to what Nationals fans have heard for years from Washington manager Dave Martinez.
“Gave away bases (and) outs. But for him, he didn’t bat an eye and that’s what makes him so great,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers, who acquired Scherzer and Trea Turner at the July 30 trade deadline when the Nationals unloaded their stars in favor of a rebuild, are 10-4.
The Nationals have gone the opposite direction.
After winning 19 games in a red-hot June and ending that month just two games behind the division lead, Washington entered Monday 18 games under .500 and dead last in the NL East, trailing by 12 games.
Washington is 2-13 since the fire sale, including losing seven straight games. Still, the Nationals have been competitive, with seven of those losses coming by one run.
The Nationals received eight players from the Dodgers in exchange for Turner and Scherzer, including right-handed pitcher Josiah Gray and catcher Keibert Ruiz.
Turner’s speed on the base paths has brought him attention since he joined the Dodgers. He scored from first on an infield single on Aug. 8 against the Los Angeles Angels that caused a stir on social media from commenters amazed at his quickness.
The former North Carolina State infielder went viral again against the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 10 after he slid into home and popped up onto his feet in a seamless transition.
“I try to not hit the ground very hard because it usually doesn’t feel great, so I try to be as soft as I can and slide, whether it’s head-first or feet-first,” Turner said after the game. “I try to avoid tags, but that’s just how I’ve slid basically my whole life.”
The video made its way around Twitter and ended up on last Wednesday’s edition of “Today.”
Turner, who joined the Dodgers a few days after Scherzer since he was on the COVID-19 list, has three doubles and has scored 10 runs through his first nine games with Los Angeles.
In his Dodgers debut, Scherzer tossed a gem, going seven innings, while recording 10 strikeouts against the Houston Astros on Aug. 4. In his second start with Los Angeles, the right-hander threw 3 1/3 innings, logging six strikeouts before a rain delay cut his start short against the Phillies on Aug. 10.
On Sunday, Scherzer allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Gray impressed in his second start with Washington, striking out 10 batters through five innings of work. He only walked two, but gave up two runs against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 8. In his third outing, Gray showed more promise in a loss to the Braves on Friday. The right-handed pitcher logged six innings, recording six strikeouts, while allowing three runs.
Turner and Scherzer weren’t the only pieces the Nationals dumped.
Kyle Schwarber, who led the Nationals in June with 16 home runs in the month, was sent to the Boston Red Sox at the deadline, after dealing with a hamstring injury for most of July. Washington sent the outfielder to Boston in exchange for minor leaguer Aldo Ramirez.
Ruiz, who’s now the Nationals’ top-rated prospect, has played five games with Triple-A Rochester. He’s hit one home run for Rochester.
The Nationals sent catcher Yan Gomes and infielder Josh Harrison to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for three prospects.
Gomes, who’s on his fourth team in his career, has hit two home runs and recorded eight RBIs in his first eight games with the A’s. Harrison is also off to a strong start with Oakland, logging a home run and two RBIs through his first eight games.
Pitching wasn’t safe from the trade block, as the Nationals sent its top two bullpen arms away, dealing Daniel Hudson to the San Diego Padres for reliever Mason Thompson and Brad Hand to the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Riley Adams.
Hudson has appeared with the Padres three times, tossing a total of two innings, recording three strikeouts. Thompson has appeared in six games, logging 5 2/3 innings pitched for Washington, recording five strikeouts.
Hand, who had been one of the Nationals’ go-to relievers, has appeared seven times with the Blue Jays, tossing 5 1/3 innings and striking out five.
Adams, who was Toronto’s No. 17 prospect, is hitting .211 with Washington in his first 10 games, recording a home run and three RBIs.
Washington also sent a rotation pitcher to another team, trading Jon Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline for outfielder Lane Thomas.
Thomas made his Nationals debut on Sunday, starting in left field. He was recalled from Rochester after Washington placed right-handed pitcher Joe Ross on the 10-day IL.
The outfielder went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a walk in his first game with Washington on Sunday against the Braves.
Lester’s first start with the Cardinals wasn’t the best. He threw five innings, allowing six runs — all earned — and gave up two home runs in a loss to the Braves on Aug. 3.
He rebounded in his second start, but he had a no-decision as the Cardinals couldn’t protect his lead. Lester gave up five runs and struck out two against the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 8. He earned his first win with the Cardinals on Saturday, recording two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings at Kansas City.
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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