Mad Max: A stroll down Nats memory lane

WASHINGTON -- There was an unofficial eighth day of the week in the Washington, D.C., area that fell once every five games during the baseball season. It was known as “Scherzday,” when the sports world turned its attention to the mound at Nationals Park to watch Hall of Fame-caliber ace Max Scherzer work his pitching magic.

“I think I speak for Nationals fans everywhere when I say that it has been the highest privilege to watch him give everything he has on the mound every fifth day, pitching through anything and everything to help our team win,” said Washington’s managing principal owner Mark D. Lerner in a statement.

For parts of seven seasons, the 37-year-old right-hander dazzled while performing -- and perfecting -- his craft in a Nationals uniform. The chapter that began on Jan. 21, 2015, as a massive seven-year, $210 million free-agent signing came to a close just months before that deal expired.

On Friday, the Nats traded Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner to the Dodgers for four prospects, including Los Angeles’ top prospect, catcher Keibert Ruiz, as part of a massive overhaul. Scherzer was considered the top target at the Trade Deadline while excelling with an 8-4 record and 2.76 ERA over 19 starts this season.

“It was everything in between [starts] that you loved about him,” said an emotional manager Dave Martinez, who sat with Scherzer and reflected in the days leading up to the Deadline. “The way he worked hard, the way he competed every day, the conversations in the clubhouse, the kind of jokingness and the kidding around that we often had together. I’ll miss that.”

Scherzer leaves behind an indelible footprint in Nationals lore. He went 92-47 with a 2.80 ERA across 1,229 innings in 189 starts while wearing the curly W. Going far beyond his place in team history (2005-present), Scherzer ranks first in WHIP (0.96), strikeouts per nine innings (11.8) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.8), second in ERA, third in strikeouts (1,610) and fourth in wins in franchise history (Montreal/Washington).

During his tenure with the Nats, Scherzer amassed accolades that included back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards (2016-17), six All-Star nods, the ‘17 MLB Players Choice Most Outstanding Pitcher honor and a ‘19 All-MLB First Team selection. Oh, and he has a ‘19 World Series championship ring to show for it.

“I have said many times that he is the greatest competitor I have ever had the pleasure of watching,” said Lerner. “From the two no-hitters to the 20-strikeout game to Game 7 of the World Series, Max has rightfully secured his place among the all-time greats in D.C. sports and Major League Baseball history, and it will be an honor to watch him get inducted into the Hall of Fame one day.”

As Scherzer embarks on the newest phase of his career with the Dodgers, take a look back at some of the memorable moments that highlight his legacy with the Nationals:

The no-hitters

Scherzer made 2015, his first year with the Nats, the season of no-hitters. On June 20, he threw a 10-strikeout no-hitter vs. the Pirates at Nationals Park, one strike away from a perfect game. Less than four months later, Scherzer put an exclamation mark on his final start of the season by no-hitting the Mets on Oct. 3 at Citi Field. He fanned a jaw-dropping 17 batters, tying MLB’s record set by Nolan Ryan for most strikeouts in a no-hitter.

• Did you know: Scherzer's historic no-hitter

Scherzer joined the elite company of Ryan, Johnny Vander Meer (1938), Allie Reynolds (’51), Virgil Trucks (’52) and Roy Halladay (2010) as the sixth pitcher in MLB history to toss a pair of no-hitters in the same season. He became the first to do so without issuing a walk and for achieving the feat against two playoff-bound opponents.

"You go out there and accomplish as much as you can," Scherzer said at the time. "When you start talking about that stuff, you don't have words for it."

The strikeouts

Scherzer made reaching double-digits in strikeouts look easy. In one of his most notable performances, he recorded 20 strikeouts against the Tigers, his former team, on May 11, 2016. He became only the fourth pitcher in baseball history to fan as many batters in a nine-inning game. He joined Randy Johnson as the only pitcher to achieve both a no-hitter and a 20-strikeout game.

"Tonight, at the end of the night, was a special night," Scherzer said at the time. "Because, I mean, the strikeouts are sexy. And to be able to punch out 20 -- it's sexy."

• Watch: Scherzer on 20-strikeout game

He reached the elite 300-strikeout single season mark in 2018, and he passed the 2,500 career strikeout milestone in ‘19. Scherzer ranks fifth all-time in games with 10+ strikeouts, and this season he surpassed legend Cy Young, among others, for 19th place on the all-time strikeout list.

• Scherzer's strikeout milestones

The Cy Young Awards

Scherzer had already won the 2013 AL Cy Young Award as an ace in Detroit. By the end of his third season in Washington, he had locked up consecutive honors in ‘16 (20-7, 2.96 ERA) and ‘17 (16-6, 2.51 ERA).

In 2016, Scherzer became the sixth pitcher in baseball history to earn the award in both the American and National Leagues. The following season, he established himself as one of just 10 pitchers to win the award three times.

"When you start talking about winning three times, I can't even comprehend it at this point in time," Scherzer said at the time. "I mean, it's such an unbelievable feeling, unbelievable moment, that you really won't process this until about a year later."

The World Series

There is no stage too big for Scherzer. He was 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA in six games (five starts) in the Nationals’ 2019 World Series run. When the Nats needed him in a pinch, he delivered. Scherzer threw a scoreless inning (three strikeouts) out of the bullpen in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. Then, he fanned seven over as many innings as the Game 4 starter to fend off elimination.

Scherzer fittingly made a gutsy start in the deciding Game 7 of the World Series against the Astros, and hurled five innings in spite of neck pain. He led his team to a 6-0 mark in his appearances that postseason while holding opponents to a .193 batting average.

“Man,” Scherzer said at the time. “What a feeling.”