Max Scherzer was winless in three outings heading into Tuesday’s finale with Tampa Bay’s Rays, who were the last team he beat, when he tossed eight strong against them back on June 5th in the nation’s capital.
Scherzer struck out 13 of the 28 batters he faced in that outing, giving up just five hits and two earned runs.
In the three turns in the rotation that followed, Scherzer held opposing teams to two runs each, in back-to-back 2-0 losses to the Giants and Blue Jays, and a 4-2 Nationals’ win over the Orioles in which he received no decision.