Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Sometimes things happen early in a season that end up having a huge impact later in the year, even though nobody at the time realized it. Max Scherzer‘s only start against the San Francisco Giants on June 11 of this year could end up being just one of those moments.
Of course, nobody viewed this game between the Giants and Nationals in Washington, DC as anything other than a typical game in the first half of the season. It was the first game of a weekend series with the Giants at Nationals Park, and Max Scherzer was slated to start against Anthony DeSclafani. What makes this game very atypical is what happened in the very first inning.
Scherzer came out for the top of the first and had a bit of a battle with leadoff man LaMonte Wade Jr. before getting him to fly out for the game’s first out. However, he felt something pull on his first pitch to the next hitter, Brandon Belt. Scherzer walked off the mound and began to stretch, wincing as he did. He’d pulled something in his groin. That was it, he was done for the day. Scherzer left the stadium for an MRI exam, which he said revealed no strain.
“It could subside fairly quickly,” Scherzer said at the time. “Going into the clubhouse I was frustrated as all get out. Turns out a little grab was all it was.” It did in fact turn out to be a minor injury; he missed one start and was back on the mound dealing filth eleven days later.
Giants hitters haven’t seen Scherzer in three years
So why do I bring up this seemingly meaningless moment from June now? Because it means, that unlike almost every other pitcher in this series. Max Scherzer has no history this season with his opponent. And because of the weird Covid season of 2020, Scherzer did not face the Giants last year, either. And in fact, you have to go all the way back to June of 2018 to find the last time that Max Scherzer pitched against the Giants other than that aborted start from earlier this year.
So a lot of the guys in this Giants’ lineup will be facing Max Scherzer for the first time in a very long time. That has to give the advantage to the pitcher, especially one with stuff as elite as Max Scherzer. Plus, with the earlier start time, it might be difficult for hitters to pick up pitches in the first hour or so of the game. That also gives the pitchers an advantage.
Of course, the Giants are a good hitting team, so they will come out against Scherzer loaded for bear. However, given their lack of familiarity with Scherzer’s stuff, you have to think that the advantage swings to the Dodgers. So if Mad Max does dominate tonight, you’ll have that pulled groin in June to thank for it.
