As you know, Justin Verlander is one of the best, if not the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.
But Max Scherzer has done a fine job of positioning himself on the same springboard from which Verlander’s career – and his salary – has taken off.
After four-plus seasons, Scherzer has a 52-42 career record with a 3.88 ERA.
He’s made 133 career starts and has allowed 774 hits in 804 2/3 innings.
Verlander went 65-41 in his first four full seasons (2006-2009), but also with a 3.88 ERA. He allowed 782 hits in 828 2/3 innings in 130 starts
Except for the win total, the stats of the two pitchers (three years apart) look a lot alike, almost identical – and that’s about to benefit Scherzer big-time.
Because Scherzer is arbitration-eligible for the second time, his $3.75 million salary of last year could double this seaosn.
Matching Verlander on that front would be rewarding, of course. For the second year in a row, Verlander will make $20 million this season.
Lucrative footsteps to be following in, wouldn’t you say?
But aside from the financial rewards, it’ll be the Tigers who reap the biggest benefit if Scherzer continues to parallel Verlander’s career on the mound – or even come close to doing so.
What do you think? Will he come close?
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