By most accounts Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is regarded as the best pitcher of his generation. San Francisco Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner and Washington Nationals righty Max Scherzer have posed the greatest threat to Kershaw’s crown.
There was also a one-year run posed by Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta. If examining the 2017 season in a vacuum, Kershaw and Scherzer have been the class of not only National League, but all pitchers in baseball.
The duo was at the forefront of the conversation to start for the NL in the 2017 All-Star Game. As Kershaw was hindered by home-run trouble, Scherzer seemingly began to separate himself.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who will guide the NL team, officially tabbed Scherzer as his starter during Monday’s press conferences at Marlins Park. The decision was essentially a no-brainer, as Kershaw pitched on Sunday and therefore isn’t eligible to appear in the Midsummer Classic.
That was a moot point for Maddon, however, as he’d already determined Scherzer would make a second career All-Star start, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Asked how he would have grappled with the decision if Kershaw was available, Maddon indicated he had already made up his mind.
“I have a ton of respect for Mr. Kershaw,” Maddon said. “But if you just broke down the numbers, I am being honest, I had already chosen Max, based on what I had just read numerically.”
Scherzer finished the first half 10-5 with a 2.10 ERA, 2.62 FIP and 0.78 WHIP in 18 starts. His 35.5 percent strikeout rate is on pace to set a career high. Scherzer leads the Majors (qualified pitchers) in ERA, ranks second with 173 strikeouts and 128.1 innings pitched, and is tied for second with two complete games.
Comparatively, Kershaw is 14-2 with a 2.18 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 0.88 WHIP through 19 starts this season. He’s third overall with 159 strikeouts and first with 132.1 innings. Kershaw said last week that even if eligible, he would still give Scherzer the nod to start the All-Star Game.
