| Max Scherzer | |
|---|---|
| Detroit Tigers – No. 37 | |
| Starting Pitcher | |
| Born: July 27, 1984 St. Louis, Missouri |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 29, 2008 for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
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| Win–loss record | 36–35 |
| Earned run average | 3.92 |
| Strikeouts | 598 |
| Teams | |
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Maxwell M. "Max" Scherzer (born July 27, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
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After playing for Parkway Central High School, Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign and instead attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He was then drafted again in 2006 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time in the 1st round as the 11th overall pick.
He began playing in the Diamondbacks organization in 2007 with the Single-A Visalia Oaks. He was promoted to Double-A Mobile BayBears after three impressive starts for the Oaks. In 2007, Scherzer also played for the Fort Worth Cats, an independent baseball team.[1] During the 2008 offseason, he was named the fourth-best prospect in the Diamondback's organization.[2] After a good start to the 2008 season in Tucson he was called up to the Diamondbacks on April 27, 2008. In 2007,
On April 29, 2008, Scherzer made his MLB debut against the Houston Astros when he came on in relief and threw 4⅓ perfect innings while striking out seven. While doing so he also set the record for the number of consecutive batters retired (13) for a pitcher making his MLB debut as a reliever. The previous record was 12 set in 1962 by the Dodgers' Pete Richert. The seven strikeouts were one short of the major-league record for most in a debut relief appearance. The Pirates' Barry Jones had eight on April 20, 1986. On April 30, 2008, the Diamondbacks announced [3] he would be placed into the starting rotation, due to his impressive start. In his first appearance as a starter for the D-Backs, Scherzer allowed five runs (two earned) in four innings, while striking out five, taking the first loss of his major league career. He pitched against the Cardinals, his favorite team growing up, on September 24 and lost for the fourth time in his career in a winless season, going five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out four.[4] Scherzer recorded his first victory in a 12–0 win over the Atlanta Braves on May 16, 2009. On May 26, Scherzer recorded his second win of his career.
Scherzer participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League season as member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
Scherzer started as the fifth starter in the D-Backs rotation for 2009.
On December 9, 2009, Scherzer was traded along with Daniel Schlereth to the Detroit Tigers as part of a three team trade that brought Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks and Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees.[5]
Detroit optioned Scherzer to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on May 16, 2010, replacing him with Armando Galarraga.[6] Shortly thereafter he returned successfully to the major leagues, going 6–4 in twelve starts with an ERA of 2.62 and 85 strikeouts in 75.2 innings.
On May 30 against the Oakland Athletics, Scherzer accumulated 14 strikeouts in only 5⅔ innings pitched. This was the fourth time in his career that he has had 10 or more strikeouts in a single game. He allowed two hits, four walks, and hit a batter on his last pitch before being replaced. That mark was tied for the most strikeouts in Comerica Park history with Jeremy Bonderman and tied for second in franchise history behind Mickey Lolich, who had 16 strikeouts in one game. On July 26, Scherzer and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza took a no-hit duel into the sixth inning. Scherzer lost the no-hit bid after giving up a grand slam to Matt Joyce. Garza went on to throw the no hitter.
On September 1 against the Minnesota Twins Scherzer pitched into the 9th for the first time in his career, giving up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out nine on 107 pitches, though the Tigers lost the game in the 10th inning.
Scherzer finished the 2010 season with a 12–11 record, 3.50 ERA and 184 strikeouts. Despite spending some time in the minor leagues, his strikeout total was still good for 10th in the American League.
In the 2011 season, Scherzer is the third starter in the rotation, and won six straight starts early in the year, being the first Tiger since Jeremy Bonderman in 2006 to accomplish this feat.
After the acquisition of Doug Fister, and the success Scherzer had in the first half of the 2011 season, he has been bumped up to the second starter, with Fister placed at third, and Brad Penny moved to fourth.
In 2011, he was 15–9, and was 3rd in the AL in home runs allowed (29), 4th in wild pitches, 5th in hit by pitch (10), 9th in win-loss percentage (.625), and 10th in wins.[7]