Max Scherzer has been having a tough year. Famous for keeping his injuries on the down low, he lost a month’s worth of games at the start of this season because of a strain on his right shoulder. The pitcher last played ALCS Game 7, where he exited with the Texas Rangers in the lead after his pitching. Before that, he exited Game 3 of the ALCS after four strikeouts without securing a win for the team that day.

Once the winningest pitcher of the last decade, Max Scherzer doesn’t seem to be able to cope with his injuries this year. Will fans see him reverting to his former self to help the Rangers clinch Game 3 of the World Series this Monday?

Scherzer vs. Scherzer: A duel for redemption

Mad Max hasn’t quite been able to get back to his Cy Young Award-winning form from 2017. Game 3 of the ALCS saw the Rangers accept a shameful 8-5 defeat from the Houston Astros. Scherzer allowed a homer, four runs, and five hits, striking out two batters before exiting the scene after just four innings. Game 7 saw a significant change in his form, as he allowed two runs over forty-four pitches in two innings and the top of the 3followed by a bullpen session with Jordan Montgomery.

Scherzer’s postseason performances have been falling short of his regular form. His combined 2023 postseason record faintly shows a 9.45 ERA and six strikeouts with a WHIP of 1.80 across two games. Which is nothing compared to his regular season record of 3.77 ERA with 174 strikeouts and an impressive 1.12 WHIP across 27 games. Comparatively, his achievements before the Rangers tenure have been electrifying, to say the least.

Unleashing the beast: Mad Max Scherzer

A Cy Young Award is not an easy accomplishment, but Max Scherzer has won three for his aggressive performance on the mound. It’s not surprising for a pitcher who struck out 20 batters in a nine-inning game in 2016. The following year, Mad Max became third on the list of fastest players ever to score 2,000 career strikeouts. In the same season, he also became the fourth player to score over 250 strikeouts in four successive seasons. Scherzer took his 3000 strikeout in the September 2021 game against the San Diego Padres. He was playing for the Dodgers at that time.

Read More: Can Max Scherzer Shed His “Worst Postseason Pitcher” Label to Propel the Texas Rangers to a Historic World Series?

Max Scherzer has always been one of the famous wildcards of the MLB—the one that’s kept up the sleeve till the last moment. If his Game 3 to Game 7 transformation is any proof, he’s all set to face the Diamondbacks in tomorrow’s game. The fans will be rooting for you, Mad Max!

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