Max Scherzer Advocates for New Pitching Standards in MLB

Max Scherzer, the veteran pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, is known for his traditional approach to the game, often challenging managers who attempt to remove him from games prematurely. Unlike many current starters who typically pitch five or six innings, Scherzer is proposing a transformative rule for Major League Baseball that would enforce a minimum pitch count for starting pitchers.

In a recent discussion with MLBFITS, Scherzer expressed his desire for the league to implement a rule mandating that all starting pitchers must throw at least 100 pitches before being taken out of a game. "I would love to see some type of pitch minimum brought into the game so that way the starter has to go out there and throw, you know, a hundred pitches," he stated. Scherzer emphasized the need for this change, citing a growing trend in baseball that limits pitchers' innings.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner further elaborated on his vision, suggesting that starting pitchers should aim for seven innings or 105 pitches as a standard. Scherzer is particularly frustrated by instances where pitchers are removed after reaching the 90-pitch mark, even if they have only surrendered a few runs. "You got to keep going back out there," he insisted.

Recently, Scherzer returned to the Blue Jays following a rehabilitation stint, but his outing against the Philadelphia Phillies was challenging. He allowed five earned runs over 3.1 innings, raising his season ERA to 10.23. Nonetheless, he achieved a significant milestone by striking out Kyle Schwarber, marking his 3,500th career strikeout, making him only the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach this achievement.

As the conversation about pitcher usage continues in MLB, Scherzer's proposal could spark a broader discussion about the role and expectations of starting pitchers in today's game.