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The Nats beat the Marlins 9-4, as Scherzer gets his 300th K

Jeff Brigham took the loss for Miami

By Andrew Meyer
MLB: New York Mets at Washington Nationals Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

For only the third time in sixteen years, a major league pitcher has struck out at least 300 batters. Max Scherzer whiffed Austin Dean on a wicked 3-2 slider to reach that milestone tonight against the Fish. This was the first right-handed pitcher to strike out 300 since 2002 when Curt Schilling did so.

Not surprisingly, Scherzer was dominant tonight, going 7 innings while giving up 5 hits and 1 run, while striking out 10 without walking a batter. It’s relatively rare to find yourself watching an opposing pitching and getting quite a bit of joy from it, particularly if that pitcher is dominating your team.

Hate to admit it, but Max Scherzer is that kind of pitcher in my eyes. His pitching style is aggressive and determined.

Other than a fourth inning double to left by Brian Anderson that scored Miguel Rojas from first, Scherzer’s night went without hitch.

With his 300 strikeout with one out in the seventh, Scherzer was greeted with a several minute long standing ovation and left the game after that inning with a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Nats made sure that they would preserve the victory for their ace by tagging Marlins relievers for 6 runs to take a commanding 9-1 lead. Miami would add a few runs late, most notably via a two-run blast by Peter O’ Brien.

Alas, tonight was not to be a success for the Marlins in a game that will be remembered by the achievement of the opposing starter.

Jeff Brigham, the Marlins starter, ran into his usual issues of walks ( 4 in only 4 innings pitched tonight), while giving up a three-run homer in the first inning to Anthony Rendon that basically decided the game nearly from the start.

The Marlins are back at it tomorrow in Washington at 4:05 for the series finale to salvage a game in the three-game set.

Attendance: 26,483

fangraphs.com

King Fish: Scherzer, of course

Flounder: Jeff Brigham

Turning Point: Rendon’s three run shot

Please leave any Icthy picks in the comments below. Remember, we introduced a new grand prize for the contest this season.

Probable Pitching Matchup

Jeff Brigham

Standard Pitching
Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ FIP WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W Awards
2018 26 MIA NL 0 3 .000 5.84 3 3 0 0 0 0 12.1 12 8 8 1 9 0 10 1 0 0 58 64 5.02 1.703 8.8 0.7 6.6 7.3 1.11
1 Yr 0 3 .000 5.84 3 3 0 0 0 0 12.1 12 8 8 1 9 0 10 1 0 0 58 64 5.02 1.703 8.8 0.7 6.6 7.3 1.11
162 Game Avg. 0 34 .000 5.84 34 34 0 0 0 0 139 136 91 91 11 102 0 113 11 0 0 657 64 5.02 1.703 8.8 0.7 6.6 7.3 1.11
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/25/2018.

Max Scherzer

Standard Pitching
Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ FIP WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W Awards
2018 33 WSN NL 17 7 .708 2.57 32 32 0 2 1 0 213.2 145 65 61 23 51 4 290 11 1 4 839 165 2.71 0.917 6.1 1.0 2.1 12.2 5.69 AS
11 Yrs 158 82 .658 3.22 337 328 2 10 5 0 2110.2 1734 816 756 236 585 17 2439 77 7 65 8558 130 3.19 1.099 7.4 1.0 2.5 10.4 4.17
162 Game Avg. 16 8 .658 3.22 34 34 0 1 1 0 216 177 83 77 24 60 2 249 8 1 7 875 130 3.19 1.099 7.4 1.0 2.5 10.4 4.17
DET (5 yrs) 82 35 .701 3.52 161 161 0 1 1 0 1013.0 908 420 396 108 305 5 1081 29 3 38 4160 117 3.32 1.197 8.1 1.0 2.7 9.6 3.54
WSN (4 yrs) 67 32 .677 2.72 130 130 0 9 4 0 871.1 612 278 263 103 196 10 1118 33 3 20 3420 156 2.91 0.927 6.3 1.1 2.0 11.5 5.70
ARI (2 yrs) 9 15 .375 3.86 46 37 2 0 0 0 226.1 214 118 97 25 84 2 240 15 1 7 978 117 3.73 1.317 8.5 1.0 3.3 9.5 2.86
NL (6 yrs) 76 47 .618 2.95 176 167 2 9 4 0 1097.2 826 396 360 128 280 12 1358 48 4 27 4398 145 3.08 1.008 6.8 1.0 2.3 11.1 4.85
AL (5 yrs) 82 35 .701 3.52 161 161 0 1 1 0 1013.0 908 420 396 108 305 5 1081 29 3 38 4160 117 3.32 1.197 8.1 1.0 2.7 9.6 3.54
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/25/2018.

Today's Lineups

MARLINS NATIONALS
JT Riddle - SS Adam Eaton - RF
Miguel Rojas - 2B Trea Turner - SS
J.T. Realmuto - C Bryce Harper - CF
Peter O'Brien - 1B Anthony Rendon - 3B
Brian Anderson - 3B Juan Soto - LF
Lewis Brinson - CF Ryan Zimmerman - 1B
Austin Dean - LF Matt Wieters - C
Magneuris Sierra - RF Wilmer Difo - 2B
Jeff Brigham - RHP Max Scherzer - RHP

Matchup Summary

So, on paper, the Marlins have a slim chance to win tonight’s game. They face a better (though disappointing) team, and face Max Scherzer, one of the favorite for the Cy Young Award. Oh, and he has won the last two Cy Young Awards. He also enters tonight’s game with 290 strikeouts, just ten away his first 300 strikeout season.

This also could be one of the last games that Bryce Harjuper at Nationals Park as a home player. Facing him is the Marlins #20 prospect, Jeff Brigham.

Brigham has struggled with control (6.6 BB/9 innings), and is 0-3 with a 5.84 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP, so it should be intriguing to watch him try to put it all together for the first time on a big league level.

It will be soon that Marlins baseball will be going away for the winter, so let’s enjoy it will it lasts!

Thread Question:

Who would you vote for the NL Cy Young Award?

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