SAN FRANCISCO -- Max Scherzer might be in Denver for more than pomp and circumstance.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who will manage the National League for this year’s All-Star Game, said on Saturday that he is “strongly considering” having Scherzer be the team’s starting pitcher for the exhibition, per 570 LA Sports’ David Vassegh.
“It’d be awesome,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez, who did not have an opportunity to manage the 2020 All-Star Game due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like I said before, I always thought that Max deserved to be on it. ... For him to start the game would be incredible.”
Martinez confirmed on Saturday prior to Roberts’ comments that Scherzer, who last pitched on Thursday, would be available to pitch in the All-Star Game.
Jacob deGrom and Kevin Gausman, who have the best and second-best ERA among qualifying pitchers in the Majors coming into Sunday, will not be available to start the Midsummer Classic for the Senior Circuit. Gausman pitched on Sunday against the Nationals while deGrom said he doesn’t plan on pitching in the game.
Zack Wheeler, who has the second-highest fWAR (4.5) among all pitchers in the Majors behind deGrom, could be a candidate to start for the National League as well.
“Max gives you everything he has every single day, not only when he’s out there every fifth day, but he competes every day,” Martinez said. “That’s who he is. It’s awesome that he gets to hopefully pitch [and] start his fourth.”
Scherzer, who was selected to his eighth career All-Star Game as a replacement on Saturday, has started an All-Star Game three times prior, the most recent being in 2018 at Nationals Park in front of his home fans. The veteran is one of five pitchers to start an All-Star Game for both the American and National League.
The right-hander, who turns 37 in a few weeks, is churning out another elite season, posting a 2.66 ERA with 134 strikeouts across 98 innings.
“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’ve been consistent, I’ve been durable because that was a major talking point against me, was that I was going to be an injury risk and durability was going to be my issue. I feel like I’ve flipped the script and made durability my strength,” Scherzer said. “Sometimes when the narrative is written against you, you don’t have to follow it. You can actually make your own narrative.”
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July 12, 2021 at 02:58AM
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Scherzer a strong candidate to start ASG - MLB.com
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