Max Scherzer Continues Solid Second Half for the Detroit Tigers

Maybe it took a demotion to finally wake Detroit Tigers’ starter Max Scherzer up. Scherzer was sent down to Triple-A in mid-May because, quite frankly, he was pitching like The Ghost of Greg Gohr.

Scherzer had an ERA of 9.45 in that month of May, but since being recalled from the minors, Scherzer has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. Scherzer continued his hot streak on Thursday night as he dominated the Toronto Blue Jays for eight innings. Scherzer allowed only six hits, one run, one walk, and struck out eight in the 117-pitch effort.

In the second half of the season, Scherzer has a 1.98 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and is holding batters to a .213 batting average against.

I believe there are a couple of reasons for Scherzer’s turnaround.

First, Scherzer is striking out fewer guys per nine innings. Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Aren’t pitchers supposed to strike out more per nine innings?”

In most cases, I believe that to be true. However, not in Scherzer’s case.

I thought Scherzer’s biggest problem at the beginning of the season was that he was trying to strike everyone out. He would get the count to 0-2, then nibble for three pitches. The next thing you know, the count is 3-2 and Scherzer would be forced to throw a fastball.

Now Scherzer is much more aggressive and is challenging the hitters with his stuff. His stuff is so good that, even if hitters do hit the ball, they hit it weakly on the ground.

This leads me to my second point about Scherzer; he is throwing more groundballs now than at the beginning of the season.

In the second half, Scherzer is throwing around 42 percent groundballs. In the first half, he was throwing around 36 percent. Scherzer is learning that using your infield is a good thing.

I always thought Scherzer projected more as a closer than a starter. But in the second half of this year, he has proved me wrong. If he really has turned the corner, then the Tigers will have a very good pitcher on their hands for years to come.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg