Free agent Max Scherzer wants your run support
By Tim Boyle
Oct 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (37) pitches in game one of the 2014 American League divisional series against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The top free agent pitcher available on the market this offseason, Max Scherzer has led the league in wins back-to-back seasons. He did so with 21 victories in 2013 and another 18 in 2014. We can believe that whichever team he joins next will reap the benefits of having such a dominant pitcher around.
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One thing to consider with Scherzer though is how many of these wins were thanks to the explosive Detroit Tigers’ offense. The Tigers are as dangerous as any at the plate and have consistently provided Scherzer with the necessary run support needed to pack on victories like pounds in the holiday season.
In his career, Scherzer has been helped with an average of 5.1 runs per game. The league average in this time has been only 4.4 so a lot of the success Scherzer has had, at least in terms of wins, can be credited to Miguel Cabrera and the gang.
In 2013, Scherzer received a career-high 5.6 runs of support per start. In 2014, it was right on-par with his career average of 5.1.
Scherzer’s 2013 and 2014 run support average was third in all of baseball each season. The only other pitcher to finish in the top ten in both of these seasons was C.J. Wilson who finished sixth in 2013 and first in 2014.
One pitcher known for the poor run support in recent years worth comparing Scherzer to is Cole Hamels. Hamels received only 3.4 runs of support in 2013 and 3.3 in 2014. In that time he was 17-23 with a 3.05 ERA. Meanwhile, Scherzer was 39-8 with a 3.02 ERA over those same two seasons. Allowing nearly the same number of runs per nine innings during that span, Scherzer has benefitted greatly from the run support given to him.
Using Hamels is a poor example as it is an extreme case of a great pitcher having very bad luck. Not to take anything away from what Scherzer has done, his record has benefitted greatly from run support. Thankfully, he doesn’t need very much of it.