Sale & Scherzer: Not Your Avg. Aces

Drew Storen drenches Max Scherzer in chocolate syrup after pitching a complete game vs. the Brewers.

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

Max Scherzer and Chris Sale are the hottest pitchers in baseball right now. One just finished throwing 18 straight scoreless innings in his last two starts and the other just finished pitching five straight games with at least 12 or more strikeouts.

Scherzer and Sale have dominated. Scherzer leads the MLB in ERA (1.76) and Ks (123). Sale has an ERA of 2.74 and is third in the majors in strikeouts (119) after his recent tear.

Now, let's review the most recent performances of the two aces starting with Sale. Sale is 3-1 in his last 5 starts and only allowing three earned runs. He also struck out 65 batters during his five-game stretch.  Sale has been the best pitcher in the AL over his five game stretch and became just the third pitcher to throw 12 or more Ks in five straight games along with Randy Johnson (1998) and Pedro Martinez (1999).  Sale's last start saw him retire the first 17 batters before giving up a hit in the bottom of the 6th. Watch Sale strikeout 14 batters in a 3-1 win versus the Houston Astros on the left.

Sale has been sensational. Though, the same thing cannot be said for the lowly Chicago White Sox who are currently (29-38) and last in the AL Central division.

Now the biggest story in the majors currently is Scherzer who has the two most dominate back-to-back starts this year. He almost pitched two back-to-back perfect games as well though, Scherzer settled for two complete games. Prior to coming to D.C. this season Scherzer only had pitched one complete game in his career. A former Cy Young winner and one of the best pitchers in his game put himself in discussion for "the greatest consecutive starts by a pitcher in major league history": said by Tim Kurkjian. 

Game 1 vs Milwaukee Brewers: CG, 16 Ks (Nats record), H, BB and threw 119 pitches.

Scherzer retired 18 batters in a row on an efficient 67 pitches. A bloop single over the head of Anthony Rendon broke up his perfect game during the top of the 7th inning. The last 3 IP after the hit were not as smooth for Scherzer as he threw 52 pitches in order to finish the game. 

Game 2 vs Pittsburgh Pirates: CG, 10 Ks, HBP and threw 106 pitches.

Scherzer really showed his "Nattitude" in his encore performance at Nationals Stadium. He threw 8 2/3 scoreless before his perfect game was broken up by Jose Tabata who leaned into a slider thrown by Scherzer and broke up what would have been considered one of the most dominant perfect games thrown in recent memory instead, he just settled for his first career no-hitter.

Scherzer became the 5th pitcher in MLB history since 1900 to allow 1 hit or fewer in back-to-back complete games and is the first pitcher to accomplish this feat since 1944 (Jim Tobin). He's also struck out 48.1% of the batters he retired in his two starts.

"That's why they got me here."

This is what current Wizards small forward Paul Pierce said after he hit a dagger jump shot versus the Toronto Raptors when he played for the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of the First Round of the 2014 Playoffs. Well if this is indicative of Scherzer's dominance, the Nats finally may be able to get deep in the playoffs long as Scherzer's on the mound.