Max Scherzer played in the World Series as a member of the Detroit Tigers, but Scherzer has really cemented his status as one of the greatest pitchers of this generation as a member of the Washington Nationals.
However, the three-time Cy Young winner has experienced nothing but heartbreak in the nation's capital.
The Nats won the National League East in 2016 and 2017, only to be ousted in the NLDS in five games both years. When Washington began the 2019 season with a 19-31 record, it seemed that more frustration would be in store for Scherzer.
However, the Nationals culminated an unlikely turnaround with a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS to earn the first World Series berth in franchise history.
Scherzer said that all of the previous Octobers have only made this journey sweeter, via Jayson Stark of The Athletic:
“It completely does,” he said. “Completely, because baseball is such a cruel sport sometimes. We played some really good games against some really good teams, and we’ve laid it on the line. Those past teams have been really good, and we’ve come up just an inch short so many times. And I’ve been a part of that, and been on the losing end of that. And it’s just a gut punch every single time.
“So when we can finally do it, and the way we handled our business (in this postseason) against the Brewers and the Dodgers and the Cardinals — I mean, just great, great ballclubs in the National League — to finally punch through, man, it’s just the ultimate feeling. It’s something that you just can’t describe.”
Scherzer was brilliant in Game 2 against the Cardinals, no-hitting the Redbirds through his first six innings and striking out 11 in seven innings of work.
After a shaky start in the NL Wild Card Game, Scherzer has allowed just one run in his last 14 innings.
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