Nationals RHP Max Scherzer named NL Pitcher of the Month for June
After leading Major League Baseball with a miniscule 0.99 ERA across five starts in the month of June, Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named National League Pitcher of the Month -- his third such honor as a member of the Washington Nationals.
After leading Major League Baseball with a miniscule 0.99 ERA across five starts in the month of June, Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer was named National League Pitcher of the Month -- his third such honor as a member of the Washington Nationals. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network.
Scherzer allowed just four earned runs in 36.1 innings pitched during the month. He posted an 8.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio (51 SO/6 BB) and struck out 12.63 batters per nine innings. He led all of Major League Baseball in opp. batting average (.114), opp. on-base percentage (.187), opp. slugging percentage (.195) and WHIP (0.55) during the month of June.
He kicked off his award-winning month by dominating the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out a season-high 14 batters in 7.0 innings of three-hit ball. He allowed one unearned run as the Nationals topped the Dodgers, 2-1, on June 6 at Los Angeles. He would go on to strike out at least 10 batters in his next three starts, running his streak of 10+ strikeout games to a career-best six straight games.
On June 22 at Miami, Scherzer carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning for the fourth time in his career. His bid for his third no-hitter was derailed by an infield single by Marlins catcher A.J. Ellis. He settled for a complete game, striking out 11 batters while allowing two unearned runs on two hits.
Scherzer's strong June carried into July as he kicked off the season's fourth month by tossing 7.0 shutout innings, striking out 12, walking two and allowing just two hits as the Nationals topped the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-2, on Sunday night.
This is the third National League Pitcher of the Month award of Scherzer's career and second monthly award given to a Nationals player this season. Ryan Zimmerman was named National League Player of the Month in April. Scherzer (May 2015; June 2015) joins fellow pitchers Stephen Strasburg (July 2016; April 2012), Jordan Zimmerman (July 2012), Gio Gonzalez (May 2012), and Chad Cordero (June 2005) as Nationals honorees of the league's monthly award.