Mets Notebook: Max Scherzer nearing return vs. Tigers after sticky substance suspension
But the weather didn’ t cooperate and one of the Mets’ games against the Braves was postponed until August because of rain. Scherzer was just one game too short. It’ s fun to face them, the Braves are good. The Detroit Tigers don’ t exactly pose the same challenge as the Braves.
DETROIT — Max Scherzer was hoping to return from his 10-game sticky substance suspension to face the Atlanta Braves. He dropped his appeal to MLB in part to be able to face an important division rival.
But the weather didn’t cooperate and one of the Mets’ games against the Braves was postponed until August because of rain. Scherzer was just one game too short. And while he’s happy to be making his return in Detroit, where he turned into one of the game’s premier aces, it’s still not quite the same as facing a rival.
“I’d rather face a division opponent,” Scherzer said Tuesday afternoon at Comerica Park. “It’s fun to face a division opponent. I get it. It’s fun to face them, the Braves are good. I can beat them, they can beat me. We’ve had good matchups with them over the years. So you won’t always want to go out there and face your division foe.”
The Detroit Tigers (10-17) don’t exactly pose the same challenge as the Braves (19-10). But either way, Scherzer is just happy to finally be able to pitch again Wednesday.
“At the same time, this is Major Leagues you can’t overlook any team in the league,” Scherzer said. “Those guys are going to gameplan absolutely everything they’ve got to try to beat me tomorrow. So you’ve got to match that type of intensity.”
If anyone can match intensity, it’s Scherzer.
“He’s trying to compete,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I think he’s looking forward to getting back with the team and contributing more than anything.”
The right-hander spent five seasons in Detroit pitching alongside his current teammate Justin Verlander. He won his first Cy Young Award in Detroit in 2013, one year after he helped pitch the Tigers to a World Series appearance. His photo is still in the hallway outside of the visitor’s locker room and the fans in the Motor City still wear his jersey.
It brings back memories of past success for him and for a once-historic franchise.
“Those moments when we were in the postseason beating the A’s, beating the Yankees, those were just incredible moments as a team where you’re pouring champagne with everybody in a locker room after a series win I mean,” Scherzer said. “Those are the moments you never forget.”
This isn’t Scherzer’s first homecoming — that came in 2019 as a member of the Washington Nationals. But his past numbers against his old club bode well for the Mets.
He earned the win in his return to Detroit in a dominant performance, holding the Tigers to one run over eight innings and striking out 14 on June 30, 2019. In 2016 he faced the Tigers at National Park and struck out 20 over a full, nine-inning complete game.
That version of Scherzer has yet to appear for the Mets this season. Before his suspension, he was 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA. He had fewer strikeouts (17) in 19 2/3 innings than he did in that one game against Detroit in 2016. But it’s unrealistic to expect that he would be the same pitcher at 38 years old. And he refutes the narrative that he was using any substance other than rosin to try and keep up.
Scherzer is ready to put the incident in Los Angeles behind him and get on with the rest of his season. Sitting out for 10 games “sucked” but he feels good physically after being off for the last two weeks and he wants to pitch like the ace the Mets need him to be.
“Make your posts and get deep into games — I mean that’s the job of a starting pitcher,” Scherzer said. “That’s what I love to do. I love the challenge of that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
The Mets are hoping right-hander Carlos Carrasco (bone spur in elbow) can return within the next 10 days. Carrasco will be sent on a rehab assignment before being activated from the injured list.
The Mets are confident that this break to deal with his elbow will help him get back his old form after starting the season 0-2 with an 8.56 ERA. The 36-year-old had a cortisone shot while the club was still on the West Coast and it appears to have been effective, with Carrasco continuing to complete the steps of rehab.
“I really like what we’re seeing,” Showalter said. “He’s doing some things that he wasn’t doing before, especially with his recovery.”
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