It is not the early season results that catch the eye, it is the potential of what a Max Scherzer-Walker Buehler matchup can be that will merit interest in Saturday’s duel between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
The Nationals are just 1-7 in Scherzer’s eight starts this season, but the longtime ace is coming off a 10-strikeout performance Monday in a no-decision at Milwaukee.
Buehler (4-0) has not yet met the high standards he set for himself last season, and has a 4.95 ERA after seven starts, but he is coming off an outing against the Atlanta Braves when he struck out eight over seven innings while hitting 99 mph on the radar gun for the first time all year.
Buehler got off to a slow start this spring as the Dodgers played it safe with their high-upside right-hander, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the 24-year old is finally coming around in early May because of a reason other than a delayed schedule to start the year.
“I think with Walker it is more mechanics,” Roberts said. “There are certain things with his lower half that when he’s synced up and the ball comes out, there is a tick up in velocity. And even if he feels right and the mechanics aren’t in balance, then the command and velocity is a little bit lower.”
Buehler has just one career appearance against the Nationals, a one-inning relief outing in 2017 when he gave up a walk, a hit and a run.
Scherzer has more of a history against his opponent. In 13 career regular-season appearances against the Dodgers (11 starts) he is 4-4 with a 2.77 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings.
He has two postseason starts against the Dodgers, giving up five combined runs over 12 innings with 12 strikeouts, but the Nationals lost both games in the 2017 National League Division Series as Los Angeles advanced.
Since his ERA ballooned to 4.45 when he gave up seven runs (six earned) to the Miami Marlins on April 20, he has a 2.70 ERA over three starts (20 innings) since. But he still will carry an uncharacteristic 0-5 record into the game with a 3.78 ERA.
In his outing against the Brewers this week, he was let down by some suspect defense, which has been a recent trend with the Nationals. The Brewers won 5-3.
“We gave up four runs we shouldn’t have given up, but he pitched well,” manager Dave Martinez said, according to mlb.com. “He settled down a little bit and got some big outs. Typical of Max. I know we didn’t score a lot of runs, but a game we should have won.”
After the Dodgers were shut out at home for the first time Thursday, ending their 10-game winning streak at Dodger Stadium, they returned the favor Friday with a 5-0 victory of their own.
It was vintage Dodgers in their latest win with three home runs on the night, two coming from Joc Pederson. The Dodgers improved to 16-5 at home as they tied the Brewers for most home victories this season. They have 39 home runs at Dodger Stadium in the first month and a half of the season.