Mad Max doesn’t sound like he wants to come to the Bronx.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Max Scherzer, who recorded his 3,000th career strikeout Sunday and will be a free agent following the 2021 season, hinted he’d like to stay in California. Per MLB.com’s Juan Toribio:
Max Scherzer said Clayton Kershaw shared some nice words after the outing. “Hopefully I’m here and be able to watch his 3,000th strikeout as well,” Scherzer said. Kershaw is at 2653.
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Kershaw pushed his total to 2,658 with five strikeouts Monday in the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As for Scherzer, the New York Yankees were linked to the three-time Cy Young Award winner before the July 30 trade deadline. But the Washington Nationals shipped the 37-year-old right hander (and shortstop Trea Turner) to the Dodgers. And since then, Scherzer has only gotten better, going 6-0 with a 0.88 ERA in eight starts.
In the process, Scherzer has dropped his ERA for the season down to an MLB-best 2.17. On Sunday, he became the 19th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts. In the process, he joined Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander as the only active players with 3,000 strikeouts.
It’s no secret the Yankees will be shopping for starting pitching after the season. Aside from ace Gerrit Cole, New York’s rotation has no sure things, with injuries derailing Luis Severino, Corey Kluber, Jameson Taillon, Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt at various points this season.
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.
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