When the New York Mets signed star pitcher Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million contract before the lockout, they knew they were getting more than just a person standing on a mound and throwing pitches to home plate: they were getting a competitive beast who would do everything to beat his rivals.
The Mets now have Jacob deGrom and Scherzer at the top of their rotation, which is actually unfair for opposing hitters: the former had a 1.08 ERA in 92 innings last season, striking out 45.1 percent of the hitters he faced, while the newcomer finished 2021 with a 2.46 ERA in 179.1 frames.
They have five Cy Young awards between them and it’s very much in the cards that their combined tally reaches six after the season. On Sunday, they combined to pitch three runs and strike out 12 hitters in their latest spring training tune-up. deGrom started with three one-run innings, and Mad Max followed with six frames of two earned runs.
The two Mets aces are among the most competitive players in MLB
“We’re always looking to get better,” Scherzer said to the Mets’ official site. “I’m learning from him and what he can do with the baseball, how he pitches and how he sequences. That’s the best thing about this — we can all learn from each other.”
deGrom was also eager to learn from the more experienced Scherzer. “You know, he’s been in this league a long time, and he’s faced these guys a bunch,” deGrom said. “To learn how he goes after them is big.”
Both hurlers are seen as perfectionists, always looking to get the slightest of edges when they are on the mound. Otherwise, they probably wouldn’t have gotten even half of their achievements.
“That was fun, huh?” Mets manager Buck Showalter said after the pair convincingly beat the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mets fans are in for a treat in 2022.