Official

SCHERZER EYES POTENTIAL ALL-STAR START

Scherzer

DURHAM, NC – Regardless of whether or not Max Scherzer (pictured) makes history in his next start, the Detroit right-hander has already had quite an impressive season. Scherzer, who began his career in the American Association with the Fort Worth Cats in 2007, has been named to the 2013 American League All-Star team after beginning the year with a nearly unprecedented 13-0 record.

Last night, the former Cat took the hill in Cleveland with a chance to become the first major league pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 to start the season 14-0. The Tigers won the game, 4-2, but it took them 10 innings to do so. Scherzer settled for a no-decision after leaving the game with the score tied, 2-2. Though Scherzer did not tie Clemens’ feat last night, he will have another chance when he faces the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

That start comes just three days before the MLB All-Star Game, where Scherzer has a serious chance to be the American League’s starting pitcher. His 13-0 record is the best in baseball and he sits second in the A.L. in strikeouts (146), opponents’ batting average (.200) and WHIP (0.95). Scherzer is also fortunate that his last start before the All-Star break is on Saturday, as starters who pitch on Sunday are ineligible to pitch during Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Before he became a major league All Star, Scherzer pitched in the American Association for the Fort Worth Cats. In three starts with Fort Worth in 2007, the right-hander went 1-0 with a stunning ERA of 0.56. In 16 innings, Scherzer struck out 25 batters, averaging 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Those starts were the first in Scherzer’s professional career and he was quickly scooped up by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Scherzer made his debut with the D-Backs in 2008, but was part of a three-team trade in the winter of 2009 that sent him to Detroit. In his time with the Tigers, Scherzer has gone 56-27. Scherzer’s manager with the Tigers, Jim Leyland, is also the manager of the A.L. this year and will decide if the right-hander will start for the road team in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

Archives

Related Posts