Max Scherzer

Early life

Scherzer was born in St. Louis, the son of Jan (Shirck) and Brad Scherzer, and grew up in the suburb of Chesterfield, Missouri. He grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. Scherzer played baseball, football, and basketball as a student at Parkway Central High School, which is in his hometown. What he lacked in raw talent, he made up for with the fiercely competitive nature that distinguished his athletic career. One of his high school coaching influences was basketball coach Rick Kirby, who stressed fundamentals and was defense-oriented. Marty Maier, then the Cardinals' scouting director, selected him in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. However, he did not sign and instead attended the University of Missouri in Columbia.

College career

Early in his time at Missouri, Scherzer exerted so much effort in his windup that his head whip constantly caused his cap to fall off. One of Scherzer's coaches at Missouri, Tony Vitello, had helped to recruit him, and eventually persuaded him to pitch with more balance and control and to stop leaping at hitters, which frequently caused him to miss up and in to right-handed batters. He did not pitch the final 50 days of his freshman season, choosing instead to focus on working out and doing long toss, while gaining velocity in the process. Vitello and head coach Tim Jamieson trained him in a drill to balance on his back leg with more coordination and not to fall over his front foot. Scherzer modified his delivery and worked constantly over the following winter, leading to a 1.86 earned run average (ERA) and 131 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched over 16 games during his sophomore season.

After his freshman year at the University of Missouri in 2004, Scherzer played with the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League (NWL), a collegiate summer baseball league. He went 2–1 that summer with a 1.91 ERA with six saves. He also struck out 50 batters in only 33 innings pitched. He was named a mid-season All-Star.

As a sophomore with Missouri in 2005, Scherzer won the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Award.

On January 9, 2012, it was announced that Scherzer would be inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Arizona Diamondbacks chose Scherzer in the first round with the 11th overall pick of the 2006 MLB draft, making him Missouri's first-ever MLB first-round draft pick.

Mike Rizzo, the Diamondbacks' scouting director, marveled that Scherzer attacked hitters with a relentlessness that he had never seen. Seven pitchers were selected ahead of him, including Luke Hochevar (first overall pick), Brandon Morrow, Clayton Kershaw, and Tim Lincecum. Scouting reports criticized Scherzer for too violent of delivery, but Rizzo and other Arizona scouts decided that "the combination of his arm action and his pitching IQ and his attack mode... we were calling him 'Mad Max' in the draft room. He came at you. He looked angry. He looked mad."

Scherzer and agent Scott Boras had initial difficulty negotiating a contract with the Diamondbacks; as such, Scherzer did not sign the summer he was drafted. Instead, Scherzer began his professional baseball career with the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association. He stated that "It was my decision" and "I've never second guessed it.” He appeared in only three games for the Cats, in which he pitched a total of 16 innings, earning a 1–0 record with 25 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.56.

Scherzer later agreed to a four-year, $4.3 million contract with the Diamondbacks, reportedly signing with them just before midnight on the club's May 30 deadline.

Scherzer began playing in the Diamondbacks organization with the Class A Advanced Visalia Oaks. In his first start on June 7 with the team, he struck out 8 and allowed just one run on 2 hits over five innings. The following start, Scherzer pitched seven perfect innings and had 13 strikeouts. He did not finish the game due to a pitch limit, but told reporters he believed he “would have gotten the perfect game if I had stayed in.”

Scherzer pitched just one more start for the Oaks before being promoted to the Double-A Mobile BayBears at the end of June that year. With the BayBears, he posted a 3.91 ERA over 14 starts while striking out 76 in 73 2/3 innings.

During the 2007 offseason, Scherzer was named the fourth-best prospect in the Diamondbacks organization.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2008–2009)

On April 29, 2008, Scherzer made his MLB debut against the Houston Astros when he came on in relief and struck out the first batter he faced, Jack Cassel. He threw 41⁄3 perfect innings while striking out seven. In the process he set the record for the number of consecutive batters retired (13) for a pitcher making his MLB debut as a reliever. The previous record was 12 set in 1962 by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Pete Richert. The seven strikeouts that he had in the appearance were one short of the MLB record for most in a debut relief appearance. The Pittsburgh Pirates' Barry Jones had eight on April 20, 1986.

On April 30, 2008, the Diamondbacks announced he would be part of the starting rotation, due to his impressive debut. In his first appearance as a starter for the D-Backs, Scherzer allowed five runs (two earned) in four innings, while striking out five, taking the first loss of his major league career. He returned to the bullpen for much of the 2008 season. For the season, he was 0–4 with a 3.05 ERA in 16 games (seven starts) and struck out 66 batters in 56 innings.

Scherzer participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League season as a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

He became a full-time starter in 2009, filling the fifth starter role in the starting rotation. He recorded his first major league victory in a 12–0 win over the Atlanta Braves on May 16, 2009. On May 26, Scherzer recorded the second win of his career. He finished the 2009 season with 30 starts, a 9–11 record, 4.12 ERA, and 174 strikeouts in 170+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Detroit Tigers (2010–2014)

On December 9, 2009, Arizona traded Scherzer along with Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke, and Austin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers as part of a three-team agreement which sent Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks and Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees.

In Detroit, Scherzer grew from a hard thrower with control issues into an ace, teaming with fellow right-hander and future Cy Young Award-winner Justin Verlander to front the Tigers' starting rotation for five seasons. A third-place finish in 2010 left them out of the playoffs, but was followed by four consecutive AL Central division championships. The run culminated with Detroit winning the 2012 American League (AL) pennant, only to fall to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series.

Detroit optioned Scherzer to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on May 16, replacing him with Armando Galarraga. On May 30, Scherzer was called back up and made his first start back in a game versus the Oakland Athletics later that day. Scherzer accumulated 14 strikeouts in 5+2⁄3 innings pitched. He allowed two hits, four walks, and hit a batter on his last pitch. Scherzer was tied for the most strikeouts in Comerica Park history with Jeremy Bonderman, and tied for second in franchise history behind Mickey Lolich, who had 16 strikeouts in one game. On July 26, Scherzer and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza dueled for a no-hitter into the sixth inning. After 5+2⁄3 hitless innings, Scherzer lost the no-hit bid, shutout, and game after serving up a grand slam to Matt Joyce. Meanwhile, Garza opportunely secured the no-hitter in a 5–0 Tampa win. Scherzer struck out eight.

On September 1 against the Minnesota Twins, Scherzer pitched into the ninth inning for the first time in his career. He gave up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out nine on 107 pitches, though he received a no-decision as the Tigers lost the game in the tenth inning.

Scherzer finished the 2010 season with a 12–11 record, 3.50 ERA, and 184 strikeouts. Despite spending some time in the minor leagues, his strikeout total was still good for tenth in the American League.

In the 2011 season, Scherzer was the third starter in the rotation, and won six straight starts early in the year, being the first Tiger since Jeremy Bonderman in 2006 to accomplish the feat. Scherzer finished the season with a 15–9 record and was third in the AL in home runs allowed (29), fourth in wild pitches, fifth in hits by pitch (10), ninth in winning percentage (.625), and tenth in wins.

Washington Nationals (2015–2021)

On January 21, 2015, Scherzer agreed to a contract with the Washington Nationals, with Mike Rizzo as the general manager. The contract was for seven years and $210 million ($285.2 million today); it included a $50 million signing bonus to be paid out over 14 years, the largest deferral in MLB history. At the time, Scherzer owned a 91–50 W–L with a 3.58 ERA in seven seasons with Arizona and Detroit. On January 22, it was reported that the contract also specified for Scherzer's salary to be $10 million in 2015, and $15 million in each of the next three seasons. It increases to $35 million a year in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the seasons in which his deferrals begin. In addition, his contract includes several award incentives, as well as a no-trade clause.

Scherzer made his regular season debut for the Nationals as their Opening Day starting pitcher versus the New York Mets on April 6, 2015. He struck out eight over 7+2⁄3 innings in a 3–1 loss. On June 14, 2015, he pitched his second career complete game, ceding one hit and one walk in a 4–0 shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. He accrued six perfect innings before Carlos Gómez, leading off the seventh inning, fought off a 96 miles per hour (154 km/h) fastball for a bloop single to right field inches past the outstretched glove of second baseman Anthony Rendon. Scherzer's 16 strikeouts established a new personal best and a Nationals team record for one game, surpassing Stephen Strasburg's effort of 14 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8, 2010. Rated with a game score of 100, Scherzer's mark was the 12th time in MLB history such a score or higher had been achieved.

Six days later, Scherzer no-hit the Pirates 6–0 at Nationals Park for his first career no-hitter. After retiring the first 26 batters, he came within one strike of a perfect game, only to hit the 27th batter, José Tábata, who appeared to lean into the pitch. Scherzer secured the no-hitter by retiring the next batter, Josh Harrison, on a fly ball. It was the 13th time that the 27th and presumably final batter disrupted a perfect game in progress. The game score was 97, the second occasion on the season where Scherzer had achieved a game score of at least 97. It was a feat previously accomplished just twice, first by Nolan Ryan in 1990 and then Pedro Martínez in 2000.

The 100th win of Scherzer's career occurred on June 26 in a 5–2 victory versus the Philadelphia Phillies; he allowed both runs over eight innings. It was his third consecutive start where he did not allow any baserunners for the first five innings. In June, Scherzer's ERA was 1.79 during which he was named the NL Pitcher of the Month for the second consecutive month. Spanning his last three starts in June, he registered 24 consecutive scoreless innings, retired 52 consecutive batters without allowing a hit, struck out 33, and completed 26 of a possible 27 innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2021)

On July 30, 2021—the day of the MLB trade deadline—with the Nationals under .500 and Scherzer in the final year of his contract, Scherzer was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Trea Turner in exchange for Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz, Donovan Casey, and Gerardo Carrillo. Scherzer made his Dodgers debut on August 4 in Los Angeles against the Houston Astros, pitching seven innings and giving up two runs and striking out 10 batters, and earned the win.

On September 12 at Dodger Stadium, Scherzer struck out Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning in a contest versus the San Diego Padres to become the 19th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts. In the second inning of the same game, Scherzer achieved his third immaculate inning, tying Sandy Koufax and Chris Sale for the most immaculate innings thrown in a major-league career. Additionally, Scherzer had taken a perfect game into the eighth inning until Hosmer doubled to deep right field with one out. On September 13, Scherzer was named NL Player of the Week. It was the sixth time in his career that he earned Player of the Week honors. In his first nine starts with the Dodgers, Scherzer allowed five earned runs in 58 innings for a 0.78 ERA. He finished the 2021 season with a 15–4 record and led all qualified pitchers with a 0.86 WHIP and a .185 batting average against. He started for the Dodgers in the Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 4+1⁄3 innings, while allowing one run on three hits in a game the Dodgers eventually won 3–1 on a walk-off homer.

As the starting pitcher in Game 3 of the NLDS versus the San Francisco Giants, Scherzer completed seven innings in a 1–0 losing effort, allowing only Evan Longoria's solo home run in the fifth inning. It was the Dodgers' first loss with Scherzer on the mound. Pitching on two days' rest, he earned his first major league save on October 14 in Game 5 of the NLDS, to seal a 2–1 series clinching victory. He started in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, pitching 4+1⁄3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven. He remarked after the game that he felt like his arm was dead in the game and was unable to properly get loose. He was scheduled to start again in Game 6 but was scratched from the game because he was still dealing with arm soreness. As his contract signed with the Dodgers expired, Scherzer became a free agent following the World Series.

Scherzer was named the Sporting News NL Starting Pitcher of the Year, and Players Choice Award winner for NL Outstanding Pitcher. He placed third in the NL Cy Young Award balloting receiving six first-place votes.

New York Mets (2022–2023)

On December 1, 2021, Scherzer agreed to a three-year, $130 million contract with the New York Mets. The contract had an average annual value (AAV) of $43.3 million, which was the largest AAV in MLB history, breaking the previous record held by Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees who has an AAV of $36 million. This record was later broken by the Los Angeles Dodgers' signing of Shohei Ohtani in 2023. Because the Mets had already retired his two previous uniform numbers 37 (his Detroit number, retired for Casey Stengel) and 31 (his Washington number, retired for Mike Piazza), Scherzer took on number 21.

On April 8, 2022, Scherzer earned the win in his Mets debut against his former team, the Washington Nationals. The start was Scherzer's first-ever start as a visitor at Nationals Park and his first time facing the Nationals in nearly 12 years. On April 19, Scherzer made his home debut for the Mets, striking out 10 and allowing a hit and a run in seven innings, earning his third win of the 2022 season and his first win with the Mets at Citi Field. Scherzer recorded his 3,155th strikeout during a Subway Series game against the New York Yankees on August 22. He passed Pedro Martínez for 13th place on the all-time strikeout list. Scherzer earned the 200th win of his career on September 19, after pitching six perfect innings at American Family Field in his return from the injured list. In the same game, the Mets clinched their first playoff appearance since 2016. He joined Justin Verlander (a former teammate during his years in Detroit) and Zack Greinke as the only active pitchers with 200 wins. Scherzer made 23 starts for the Mets in 2022, posting an 11–5 record, a 2.29 ERA, and 173 strikeouts across 1451⁄3 innings pitched. He made his only postseason start for the Mets in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres in what turned out to be one of the worst starts of his career. He surrendered seven runs, including four home runs, in 42⁄3 innings pitched in the 7–1 loss. Scherzer did not pitch again as the Mets lost the series 2–1.

On December 6, 2022, he was named to the All-MLB Second Team. In 19 starts for the Mets in 2023, Scherzer posted a 9–4 record, a 4.01 ERA, and 121 strikeouts across 1072⁄3 innings pitched.

Texas Rangers (2023–2024)

On July 29, 2023, the Mets traded Scherzer to the Texas Rangers along with $35.5 million in cash considerations for shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuña. As part of the deal, Scherzer opted into his 2024 player option worth more than $43 million. In his debut with the Rangers, Scherzer pitched six innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, and recorded two walks and nine strikeouts. On September 13, Scherzer was shut down for the remainder of the regular season after suffering a teres major strain. In 8 starts for the Rangers, he posted a 4–2 record and 3.20 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 45.0 innings of work.

Scherzer was reactivated during the postseason. He started three postseason games: Games 3 and 7 of the 2023 ALCS against the Houston Astros, and Game 3 of the 2023 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. While he was eventually shut down again following back pain, the Rangers would go on to win their first World Series title in franchise history.

After the 2023 season, Scherzer had surgery on a herniated disc and then worked to recover from thumb soreness and nerve issues. He made his 2024 season debut on June 23, and threw five scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals. He struck out four, which gave him a career total of 3,371, tying him with Greg Maddux for eleventh place on MLB's all-time list. Scherzer did not have a healthy 2024, dealing with arm fatigue and nerve issues, ending his season early with a hamstring strain. Overall, Scherzer started nine games with a 3.95 ERA.

Toronto Blue Jays (2025–present)

On February 4, 2025, Scherzer signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He left his March 29 Blue Jays debut after three innings and was soon placed on the injured list with right thumb inflammation. On June 13, Scherzer made a rehab start for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. he returned to the rotation on June 25.

He earned his first win as a Blue Jay on July 11 against the Athletics. In 17 starts for the Blue Jays, he posted a 5–5 record and 5.19 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 85.0 innings of work.

On October 16, he started Game 4 of the 2025 American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to start a postseason game for six different teams. He pitched 52⁄3 innings, allowing two runs and striking out five as the Blue Jays won 8–2. Scherzer was credited with the win, his first postseason win since the 2019 World Series, making him the fourth pitcher aged 41 or older to record a win in the playoffs. On October 27, he started Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, becoming the first pitcher to pitch for four teams in the World Series. He started Game 7 on November 1 to become the oldest pitcher to start in a winner-take-all World Series game.

On March 2, 2026, Scherzer signed a one-year, $3 million contract to stay with the Blue Jays. On June 10, Scherzer recorded his 3,500th career strikeout by fanning Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning. He became the 11th player to reach this achievement. On August 8, Scherzer passed Walter Johnson to become tenth all-time in strikeouts with 3,516, and on August 30 he passed Gaylord Perry for ninth place by recording his 3,535th strikeout. In between on August 13, he pitched his 3,000th inning. He became the 139th player to reach this mark.

Pitching and preparation style

With a low three-quarters delivery (nearly sidearm), and with an overarm starting stretch when nobody is on base, Scherzer throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball with good movement averaging 92–96 miles per hour (148–154 km/h), topping out at 99 miles per hour (159 km/h), a slider at 85–86 miles per hour (137–138 km/h), a changeup at 84–85 miles per hour (135–137 km/h), a cutter at 88–89 miles per hour (142–143 km/h), and a curveball at 78–79 miles per hour (126–127 km/h). He primarily uses a fastball-slider combination against right-handed hitters and a fastball-changeup-cutter combination against left-handed hitters. Occasionally he also throws a curveball for the first strike in an at-bat.

Scherzer earned the nickname "Mad Max" partly because of his intense demeanor on the field and his unusual, highly detailed preparation methods. He also prepares intently on other aspects of the game, including hitting and baserunning. According to Nationals manager Dave Martinez, Scherzer differentiated himself from other major league pitchers because of his focus on hitting in addition to the work on his pitching.

Awards and achievements

MLB records and other distinctions

Most strikeouts in one nine-inning game (20–tied, on May 11, 2016)

Most game scores of 100 or higher in one season (2, in 2015)

Fewest innings to reach 100 strikeouts in one season (63, on May 19, 2018)

Fewest innings to reach 15 strikeouts in one game (6+1⁄3, on May 12, 2018)

Most consecutive batters retired in relief appearance as MLB debut (13, on April 29, 2008)

Third pitcher to achieve three immaculate innings

Fifth pitcher to achieve 100 double-digit strikeout games (May 8, 2021)

19th pitcher to reach 3,000 career strikeouts (September 12, 2021)

First pitcher ever to appear in the World Series with four different teams (October 27, 2025)

Other achievements

Two no-hitters pitched in one season:

versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 20, 2015

versus the New York Mets on October 3, 2015

Three immaculate innings pitched:

versus the Philadelphia Phillies on May 14, 2017

Personal life

Scherzer has heterochromia iridum; his right eye is blue and his left eye is brown. On June 12, 2011, the Detroit Tigers distributed a bobblehead doll depicting Scherzer with the condition correctly portrayed. In the spring of 2017, the Nationals unveiled a "delightfully creepy" crop of Scherzer's eyes, correctly portrayed as blue and brown, with backward and forward Ks edited into the pupils.

Scherzer met his future wife, Erica May, at the University of Missouri, where they both were pitchers. May pitched for the Mizzou softball team. After more than eight years of dating, the couple married in November 2013. They have three daughters and a son. They welcomed their first daughter on November 29, 2017. On July 4, 2019, his second daughter was born. Their third child, a boy, was born on May 2, 2021; Scherzer pitched a complete game before leaving for the hospital that afternoon. Their fourth child, a girl, was born on January 30, 2023. The Scherzers owned four rescue dogs and two cats as of 2017. The family resided in McLean, a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., but they listed the home for sale in 2020. That same year, they purchased a home in Jupiter, Florida.

The Scherzers are socially active. In 2013, they partnered with the Detroit Tigers Foundation on a program called Scherzer's Superstars, in which groups from the Metropolitan Detroit chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America were invited to Comerica Park every Tuesday home game to meet Scherzer and some of his Detroit teammates and go down to the field for batting practice. In 2015, after her husband signed with the Washington Nationals and inspired by the actions of his future teammate Sean Doolittle and Doolittle's future wife, Eireann Dolan, Erica May-Scherzer partnered with organizers of the Nationals' annual "Night Out" event for LGBT fans and led an effort by Nationals' spouses to promote the event.

May-Scherzer is an ambassador for the Polaris Project, which aims to stop human trafficking; Scherzer started a fundraiser during the Nationals' 2016 season called Strike Out Modern Slavery in which the couple matched donations to Polaris for every strikeout Scherzer threw that season. Both Max and Erica are involved with the Humane Rescue Alliance, announcing after Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 that they would pay all pet adoption fees from the Washington, D.C.-based group's shelters for four days. When he was pitching for the Mets, the Scherzers agreed to cover the adoption fee at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey for any dog over 30 pounds adopted from June 6 to 12, 2022. More than 270 animals were adopted, largely due to the Scherzers' social media presence.