Max Scherzer is wasting no time in his efforts to reward the Washington Nationals for their $210-million offseason investment.
Scherzer, who threw two innings in his spring debut Thursday, said he's working on adding a cutter to his arsenal of pitches, which already includes four above-average offerings.
"The biggest thing, if I do add it, I still have to maintain a slider and a curveball," Scherzer told James Wagner of the Washington Post. "If that pitch takes anything away from those two pitches, then I can't throw it."
Scherzer also throws a changeup and four-seam fastball, though he's featured his curveball increasingly more during the last two seasons. The results have paid off: Scherzer's posted consecutive 200-inning seasons and won the 2013 AL Cy Young Award after incorporating the curve into his mix.
The addition of a cutter would also help disguise Scherzer's four-seamer, which is among the most effective pitches in baseball. He led the league in fastball strikeouts against left-handed hitters the last two seasons, according to ESPN's David Schoenfield.
"It's a matter of if I can add that," Scherzer stressed, "and keep my other pitches where I want them."
Scherzer threw the cutter during his Nationals debut against the New York Mets, which included 20 strikes, two strikeouts and a home run surrendered over the 29-pitch appearance.
"It's fun," he said. "It was good to get out there for the first start of spring. You've been working hard for the past several months. It's nice to get out there, get on the mound and pitch in the game."