Scherzer overpowering early

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

July 07, 2010, 4:08pm

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Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer has thrown some overpowering fastballs in the mid to high 90's early in tonight's game with the Orioles. He fanned four of the first six batters tonight and six of the first ten he faced. He has thrown just 50 pitches through four innings and has given up just one hit, a Nick Markakis infield single in the fourth. How can a pitcher with an ERA of 4.88 be so strong? Well, he was a first-round draft pick of the Diamondbacks from 2006, the 11th overall pick. And he has been a pitcher on a roll in recent starts. He entered tonight with an ERA of 0.87 over his last three starts, giving up just 2 ER and 10 hits over 20 2/3 with 23 strikeouts. On May 30 vs. Oakland, Scherzer fanned 14 over 5 2/3 innings. He has allowed 28 of his 48 runs this year in the first two innings, but the O's didn't come close to touching him in the first two frames tonight. He is pitching now in the top of the fifth with a 2-0 lead and making it look like that may be enough tonight.