Scherzer named to 8th All-Star team

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mad Max will be heading to Denver.

Max Scherzer was named to the National League All-Star team as a replacement, MLB announced on Saturday, adding another accolade to his already Hall of Fame-worthy résumé.

“You’re always so excited,” said Scherzer, who will represent the Nationals along with Trea Turner, Juan Soto and Kyle Schwarber. “Whether it’s your first one or eighth one, it’s such an honor to be named an All-Star.”

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For Scherzer, this marks his eighth consecutive selection to the Midsummer Classic, dating back to 2013 when he played for the Tigers. That longevity isn’t lost on Scherzer, who recalled how his ability to physically hold up was questioned at parts of his career.

“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’ve been consistent, I’ve been durable because that was a major talking point against me, was that I was going to be an injury risk and durability was going to be my issue,” Scherzer said. “I feel like I’ve flipped the script and made durability my strength. I take a lot of pride in that.

“Sometimes, when the narrative is written against you, you don’t have to follow it. You can actually make your own narrative.”

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Scherzer has certainly proven this year that he’s still the model of durability. In 17 starts, Scherzer has a 2.66 ERA with 134 strikeouts across 98 innings, numbers that are all the more impressive given that he turns 37 in a few weeks.

The veteran talked about how every All-Star Game appearance differs from another. Scherzer not only recalled being the National League’s starting pitcher in the Nationals' home park in 2018, but also witnessing Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz’s final appearances in the exhibition of stars.

"Each one kind of has its own story, I would say,” Scherzer said. “Each one of them means something a little bit different each time, every time you go. Each city has its own unique experiences. You just try to appreciate each one for what it is.”

Scherzer additionally talked how he has become one of the game’s old souls amidst the wide-eyed young bucks, saying, “It’s fun now to be kind of the old guy still able to do it and have that experience."

“I’m happy for Max,” said manager Dave Martinez. “ I thought he deserved to go, to get an opportunity to go. Another player gets to represent us again, which is pretty awesome.”

Should the opportunity present itself, Martinez said Scherzer will be available to pitch in the exhibition. Scherzer has pitched in the All-Star Game five times in his career, three of those appearances being starts.

Along with Scherzer, right-handers Walker Buehler, Freddy Peralta and Taijuan Walker, third baseman Justin Turner and catcher Yadier Molina were named replacements for the National League All-Stars. On the American League side, shortstop Tim Anderson, right-hander Chris Bassitt, second baseman Whit Merrifield and infielder Joey Wendle were named replacements as well.

Don't sleep on Soto

Soto will have arguably the toughest first-round matchup in Monday’s Home Run Derby, slated to face the otherworldly Shohei Ohtani. That being said, Scherzer likes his teammate's chances.

“This is actually going to be interesting,” Scherzer said. “What [Ohtani’s] doing right now is definitely unbelievable. It’s great for the game. But let’s not sleep on Juan here. Juan can get in a groove.”

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Ohtani has, deservedly so, been billed as the Home Run Derby’s main attraction. The two-way sensation leads the league with 33 long balls, most of which have been awe-inspiring displays of his light-tower power. On Friday, Ohtani launched a 463-foot home run into the third-deck of Seattle's T-Mobile Park, becoming just the sixth player in the ballpark’s history to do so.

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Soto, however, has an impressive track record of his own. The 22-year-old hit 34 home runs in 2019 and was on pace for 40-plus in last season’s shortened campaign. Soto’s most famous display of power came in the 2019 World Series, launching a Gerrit Cole fastball onto Minute Maid Park’s train tracks.

“It’s such a show,” Scherzer said. “The Home Run Derby’s a show and all these guys are going to come in here and put on a show.”