Max Scherzer pitches with a black eye

June 19 vs. Philadelphia Phillies

There is no pitcher in Major League Baseball more intimidating than three-time Cy Young Award-winner Max Scherzer. Mad Max has a mantel full of awards and accolades, but none fully encapsulate the mood on a Scherzday at Nats Park. When the sun goes down, the lights come on, and the spittle starts flying, there's no site more terrifying to a hitter than Max growling at himself as he rears back for some extra mustard on a fastball that already sits in the mid-to-upper 90s.

Well, the only sight more terrifying might be the same exact image, but with Max sporting a black eye like he'd just served a five-minute major for dropping the gloves and giving someone the business.

A freak bunting accident during batting practice on June 18 sent Max to the hospital the night before his scheduled start against the Phillies. He fractured his nose and suffered an extremely noticeable black eye as a result.

While teammates, media and fans alike speculated about Scherzer's status for the nightcap of the following day's doubleheader, Max insisted his start was never in doubt. And when he emerged from the home bullpen to take the mound on June 19, with a pocket of fluid in his swollen cheek that sloshed with each and every pitch he delivered, his adrenaline was contagious.

Brian Dozier gave the Nats a 1-0 lead with an early home run off Jake Arrieta, and that was all she wrote because Scherzer served up a start that will end up on the Mount Rushmore of vintage Max Scherzer outings. He threw seven shutout innings of four-hit baseball, recording his 88th career game of 10 or more strikeouts in the process.