Scherzer strikes out 13, sets record as fastest to 100 Ks in season
Max Scherzer is making an early case for his fourth Cy Young Award.
Recording his 100th strikeout of the season in his 63rd inning of 2018, the Washington Nationals ace became the fastest pitcher of the modern era to hit the century mark in Ks, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
| Year | Pitcher | IP |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Max Scherzer | 63 |
| 2001 | Kerry Wood | 65 2/3 |
| 2001 | Randy Johnson | 66 |
| 1999 | Pedro Martinez | 66 |
| 1998 | Kerry Wood | 66 |
Johnson would go on to beat out Wood for the 2001 National League Cy Young, while Wood won the 1998 Rookie of the Year. Pedro Martinez would win his second of three Cy Young awards in 1999.
Even further, Saturday marked Scherzer's seventh game of the season with at least 10 strikeouts, striking out at least seven in his three other starts. After Saturday's game, Scherzer now owns a 1.78 ERA and 1.83 FIP over 65 2/3 total innings with 104 strikeouts.
In the event Scherzer goes on to win the 2018 NL Cy Young, it will be the third straight for the 33-year-old, having also won an American League Cy Young back in 2013 as a member of the Detroit Tigers.