While managing Max Scherzer with the Washington Nationals for three-plus seasons, Dave Martinez got used to watching the right-hander win.
Martinez would prefer not to see Scherzer’s next victory in person.
Scherzer will take the mound in pursuit of his 200th career win on Saturday night, when the New York Mets look to lock up a series victory in the middle game of a three-game set against the visiting Washington Nationals.
Scherzer (9-4, 2.27 ERA) is slated to oppose left-hander Patrick Corbin (5-17, 6.56) in a battle of pitchers who helped the Nationals win the 2019 World Series.
On Friday, Pete Alonso’s sixth-inning leadoff homer snapped a tie and sparked a four-run outburst for the Mets, who defeated the Nationals 7-3.
Scherzer won 92 games for the Nationals from 2015 until his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30, 2021, including 42 with Martinez as his manager. Among Scherzer’s skippers, only Jim Leyland (64 wins from 2010-13 with the Detroit Tigers) oversaw more of the his victories.
The sight of Scherzer starting for the opponent is becoming a little more familiar to Martinez and the Nationals, who have faced him twice this season.
Scherzer earned the win over Washington in his Mets debut on April 8, when he allowed three runs over six innings in a 7-3 victory. He also won Aug. 1 after giving up three runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings in another 7-3 triumph.
“We know Max is very competitive,” Martinez said with a chuckle. “We don’t want him to get his 200th win, but we know he’s going to compete. So we’re going to be ready for him.”
Just two active pitchers — Justin Verlander (242 wins) and Zack Greinke (223 wins) — have at least 200 victories.
“I know after (Saturday) I love him,” Martinez said. “But (Saturday), I’d like for us to go out there and score a few runs off of him.”
By scoring seven runs Friday — their most runs since a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 26 — the National League East-leading Mets provided evidence they won’t overlook the last-place Nationals following a four-week stretch of facing playoff contenders.
The Mets, who lead the Atlanta Braves by three games in the race for the NL East title and the likely second bye in the NL playoffs, went 12-9 against the Braves, Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees in a stretch that ended Thursday.
“You always have little moments where you get kind of a pulse of your club,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “Advance meeting (Friday) — everybody’s engaged, locked and loaded into the same preparation.”
Scherzer lost his second straight attempt at recording win No. 200 on Sunday, when he took the hard-luck defeat after allowing one run over seven innings as the Mets fell to the Rockies 1-0. He struck out 11 and walked one.
Corbin, who leads the majors in losses, snapped a nine-start winless skid on Sunday when he gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings during the Nationals’ 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. He was 0-7 with an 8.33 ERA in nine starts between wins.
Corbin is 5-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) against the Mets, including an 0-3 mark and a 6.62 ERA in three meetings this year.
Scherzer is 3-0 with a 4.44 ERA in five career games (four starts) vs. the Nationals.
–Field Level Media