In a wild-card rematch against the team that eliminated him last postseason, Max Scherzer found his footing and led the New York Mets to a 5-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. The stakes may have been symbolic, but Scherzer appeared to be up for revenge after the 2022 Mets were eliminated from the playoffs in Queens last October.
After commencing the 2022 regular season with an ERA over 6.0, Scherzer struggled in his first two starts and admitted that the pitch clock might be more taxing on veteran players. Despite this, he kept the potent Padres off the board through five hard-fought innings, earning himself the win and allowing just a single hit.
At 38 years old, Scherzer’s continued dominance is inherently precarious, but he seems committed to pushing himself ever higher. His drive to stay at the top of his game, however, clashes with the linear ravages of aging. Yet, he proved that he is not broken and that he can still take the mound with a winning mentality. Although the path to the top has to lead to some sort of precipice eventually, Scherzer seems to have found his footing, at least for now.
The New York Mets’ luck that propelled them to a 101-win season in 2022 appeared to wear off at the end of the year. But now, after a shaky start to the 2023 season, they may be back on track. While the stakes may have been symbolic in their wild-card rematch against the Padres, the Mets’ victory could give them the boost they need to start a winning streak.
Read Also: Jeremy Renner Shares Terrifying Experience of His Snow Plow Accident on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
Recommended: Lady Bears Swipe Yellowjackets