Oct

2011 ALDS: Previewing Max Scherzer

(Duane Burleson, AP)

When we previewed Doug Fister yesterday, I mentioned that he had a pretty loose connection to the Yankees. Max Scherzer’s connection to New York is much more ironclad. The 27-year-old right-hander was one of the seven players involved in the three-team trade that brought Curtis Granderson to the Yankees, though he went from the Diamondbacks to the Tigers. Scherzer will be charged with getting his team back in the series this afternoon following their Game One loss.

Performance

Scherzer started the year as Detroit’s number two starter behind Justin Verlander, but he basically pitched his way out of that role by posting a 4.90 ERA (~4.40 FIP) through his first 18 starts. That’s part of the reason why went out and traded for Fister. Scherzer finished well, pitching to a 3.89 ERA (~3.80 FIP) in his final 15 starts.

Always a high strikeout guy, Scherzer’s strikeout rate decreased for the third straight season, down to a still stellar 8.03 K/9. He’s gotten the walks under control (2.58 BB/9) but is a fly ball guy (40.3% grounders). I guess the best way to describe Scherzer is enigmatic; he had 20 starts of two runs or less, but also nine with five runs or more.

Pitch Selection

(via Texas Leaguers and FanGraphs)

Scherzer is basically two two-pitch pitchers. He’ll rely on the fastball and slider against righties, and then the fastball and changeup against lefties. All three offerings have been essentially average this year (not much difference between ±0.5 runs from average per 100 pitches and zero), but the pure velocity of his fastball and the ten mile an hour separation between the heat and soft stuff make him tough to handle. Some deception in his delivery, courtesy of one of the most violent head whacks you’ll ever see, helps his cause. Scherzer is definitely one of those guys with better stuff than results, but power repertoires always seem to play up this time of year.

Pitching Pattern

(via FanGraphs)

It’s all fastball, all the time. Even when he’s ahead in the count, there’s still better than a 50-50 chance that Scherzer will go to his heat. I guess when you throw that hard, you should be proud of your fastball. [/Flaherty'd] Scherzer has been quite a bit better at home than on the road, and I’m guessing that’s at least part of the reason why they scheduled him to pitch Game Three in Detroit. The weather threw a wrench into that, so perhaps the Yankees benefit. The good news is that they were the third best fastball hitting team in baseball this year, so Scherzer plays right to their strengths.

Categories : Playoffs

20 Comments»

Tyrion Lannister says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:04 am

We’re a good fastball hitting team. We hit homers. We should get some runs off this guy with how some of these guys are locked in, especially Robbie Cano. Teix was hitting the ball the other way. ARod hit some balls hard. Crush him.

denmings says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:26 am

Nice scouting report on the pitcher. Looking forward to seeing the yankees sweep this series. woot~

Regis says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:27 am

Max has pitched twice against the Yanks this year.

April 3 – 5 innings, 9 hits, 6 runs.
May 4 – 8 innings, 4 hits, 9 strikeouts, 0 runs.

Tackaberry says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:29 am

The former at Yankee Stadium, the later at Comerica Park.

Reply
JimAbbottFan says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:35 am

While somewhat comforting to know that his bad performance came from pitching in Yankee Stadium, checking out the stats from that game reminded me how frustrating it was. Hughes pitched poorly and every time the Yankees came close to catching up, the Tigers would get another HR or XBH to pull away.

Reply

Kosmo says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:42 am

Yes Mike “Enigmatic“ is the best way to describe Scherzer.

Monteroisdinero says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:56 am

And for those who think Scherzer is Jewish (I know it’s irrelevant) check out this site:

http://www.dandykoufax.com

/appeals to some not all

McLovin says:

October 2, 2011 at 11:02 am

He’s Jewish?

Reply
Steve S. says:

October 2, 2011 at 12:25 pm

If he is, Happy Roshashana from one of the goyem.

Reply

your mom says:

October 2, 2011 at 10:58 am

I hate Luis Ayala.

Pants Lendel-'Stros. says:

October 2, 2011 at 11:17 am

This game has a reverse lock feel to it

your mom says:

October 2, 2011 at 11:26 am

IDK, the Tigers offense is hurtin’ for a squirtin’.

Reply
- Pants Lendel-'Stros. says:
  
  October 2, 2011 at 11:30 am
  
  No I mean that Mad Max has the potential to shut down this line up like Brandon Morrow has this year.
  
  I’m confident that Garcia can “5 and Fly” it today with the game still manageable.
  
  Reply
  - your mom says:
    
    October 2, 2011 at 11:37 am
    
    Hopefully we won’t see Luis Ayala again. . . . . . unless we’re up by 10 runs or something.
    
    Reply
    - nedro says:
      
      October 2, 2011 at 12:38 pm
      
      “Hopefully we won’t see Luis Ayala again”
      
      [sigh]…But you know we will.
      
      Reply