Players in different sports handle pain differently. For instance, during the Stanley Cup Final, Zdeno Chara played while having multiple jaw fractures. In baseball, a player may miss a game with a blood blister.
Max Scherzer, however, is trying to end that stigma in baseball. After breaking his nose practicing bunting during batting practice on Tuesday, Scherzer made his scheduled start and pitched in the Washington Nationals’ Wednesday evening game.
Scherzer pitched a gem, of course, and sported a gnarly black eye at the same time. He got the attention of the Capitals too with his performance.
💯#MadMax #HockeyGuy https://t.co/g1hANxLdEi
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 20, 2019
Mad Max looked the part while throwing seven shutout innings and notching ten strikeouts with his broken nose. The Capitals were impressed tweeting out “💯 #MadMax #HockeyGuy”
Scherzer was fired up.
Max Scherzer average fastball velocity this season: 94.8 mph
Max Scherzer average fastball velocity this inning: 96.5 mph
Max is fired up.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) June 19, 2019
The Nationals would end up beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0.
B̶L̶U̶E̶ ̶E̶Y̶E̶
B̶R̶O̶W̶N̶ ̶E̶Y̶E̶
BLACK EYE
FULL HEART ❤️
CAN'T LOSEFINAL // #Nats 2, Phillies 0 pic.twitter.com/y9PZH9iFlz
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 20, 2019
Scherzer initially broke his nose on Tuesday, but was committed to making his start after an MRI showed no further damaged other than the fracture.
WATCH – Max Scherzer, who's scheduled to start Wednesday, was hit in the face by a ball during batting practice.
Details: https://t.co/sNoPv3co00 pic.twitter.com/27FonlyC33
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) June 18, 2019
T-Shirt Guy, Charlie McManus, had a perfect tribute.
Now THIS is a 'fit. pic.twitter.com/aeXTS5WqxS
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 20, 2019
Maybe next time, Scherzer should wear his hockey helmet with a face shield when bunting.
Headline photo: @nationals
