Nats give Scherzer 3rd Opening Day nod
The Washington Nationals will hand the ball to staff ace Max Scherzer on Opening Day, the team announced.
It’s the third Opening Day start for the 2017 NL Cy Young winner, who got the nod in 2015 and 2016 as well with the Nationals. Stephen Strasburg received his franchise-leading fourth Opening Day start last year after Scherzer missed time in early spring due to injury.
The Nationals open the season against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark. In four starts against the Reds, Scherzer owns a 2-1 record and 2.55 ERA, striking out 33 batters over 24 ⅔ innings. Scherzer is 0-1 in his two previous Opening Day starts.
It's curious that a pitcher as dominant as Scherzer has made only three Opening Day starts, but the right-hander has been a part of some elite rotations. Prior to signing his $210-million megadeal with the Nationals, Scherzer was an integral member of the Detroit Tigers’ rotation, winning the 2013 AL Cy Young. Justin Verlander was tabbed for every Opening Day start during Scherzer’s tenure in Detroit.
Scherzer posted a 2.51 ERA over 200 ⅔ innings last season - surpassing the 200-inning plateau for the fifth consecutive year. In doing so, the 33-year-old handily claimed his third Cy Young with 27 of 30 first-place votes.
Beyond Scherzer, the Nationals will roll with Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, and Tanner Roark as their top four, according to Jamal Collier of MLB.com.