I'd Prefer Max Scherzer Not Go 121 Pitches In a June Afternoon Game With A 10.5 Game Lead In The Division

CSN - Max Scherzer’s bid for the third no-hitter of his big league career ended with one out in the eighth inning, and he then gave up two unearned runs as the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Wednesday.

After backup catcher A.J. Ellis reached on an infield single for Miami’s first hit, an error by first baseman Adam Lind and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs. Scherzer threw a wild pitch that scored the tying run, and Giancarlo Stanton lined an RBI single — the Marlins’ only other hit — to put them ahead.

What a bummer of a day for Max Scherzer. Guy was throwing straight gas, as he struck out 7 through his first 3 innings and then took a no hitter into the 8th inning. And that’s where it all changed.

First, the infield hit to lose the no-no. Dusty could have pulled Max there. But he didn’t.

Then the error. And then the HBP. At this point Max was well over 100 pitches, and Dusty easily could have pulled Max. But he didn’t.

And then the wild pitch to score the tying run, with Giancarlo Stanton set to come to the plate. Dusty had to end the carnage right? You better believe it. But he didn’t.

Max threw pitch 121 to Stanton who lined it to the outfield to put the Fish ahead of a game they never should have been in.

Look- Max is a workhorse. He can go more than most pitchers. But right now, he doesn’t need to. It’s the middle of June. The Nats have a comfortable lead in the division with nobody really challenging them at all. This isn’t necessary:

10 straight starts with 100+ pitches (the math is wrong in the top numbers, it hasn’t added in today’s 121 yet). Kershaw has 2 games with pitch counts in the 80’s in his last 10. The most Greinke has tossed in June is 102. Max has gone back to back 118 and 121. Not optimal.

And what sucks is Dusty’s hands are tied. The Nats bullpen is so bad, it’s 6 rotten eggs one or a half dozen rotten eggs the other. But you have to be smart. Max will be no good in October if his arm blows out now.

And you guessed it, Starsburg too.

Sound familiar???

Sighhhhhh.