You would think an MLB pitcher taking the mound on his birthday would be at least a little distracted or overhyped.
Not Max Scherzer, though.
The New York Mets star had yet another brilliant outing on Wednesday night, against the New York Yankees, no less.
Scherzer surrendered just five hits over seven scoreless innings while taking a no-decision in the Mets’ 3-2 win.
The veteran right-hander, who turned 38 yesterday, walked two and struck out six foes.
Well, he accumulated six strikeouts, because three of them were to the same hitter: Aaron Judge.
He couldn’t get the win because a two-run home run by Gleyber Torres tied things against the bullpen in the eighth, but the Mets ended up prevailing anyway.
An oblique injury stopped Scherzer in May, but in 13 starts and 82 innings this season, the veteran has an excellent 2.09 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 104/15 K/BB ratio.
Birthday History For Mad Max
Scherzer, in the process of dominating the Yankees, made some history.
“Max Scherzer’s 5th strikeout today was his 40th in his career on his birthday, passing Randy Johnson for the most by a player on their birthday in MLB history,” ESPN Stats & Info tweeted.
Max Scherzer's 5th strikeout today was his 40th in his career on his birthday, passing Randy Johnson for the most by a player on their birthday in MLB history. https://t.co/erk7MIIMua
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 28, 2022
Fans don’t often fixate on stats for a player’s birthday, but it’s a cool bit of data anyway.
It shows the level of focus Scherzer shows, not only in 2022, but also during his entire career.
Can you think of a lot of 38-year-old pitchers with a 2.09 ERA over almost 100 innings?
It’s because there aren’t a lot of them.
We sincerely hope Scherzer had a good time on his birthday yesterday.
The Yankees surely didn’t.
NEXT: Max Scherzer Owned Aaron Judge Wednesday Night