Max Scherzer made his highly-anticipated debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, and he didn't disappoint the raucous, sold-out crowd.
The veteran ace delivered a playoff-caliber performance, as he completed seven innings of two-run ball with 10 strikeouts in the Dodgers' 7-5 win over the despised Houston Astros in Chavez Ravine. According to Stats by STATS, Scherzer -- who received a curtain call -- became the oldest pitcher (age 37) in MLB's modern era to strike out 10-plus batters in his team debut.
"[The game atmosphere] was actually four years of pent-up anger, of hatred, of retaliation and revenge, this felt like," NBC Sports Los Angeles reporter Michael Duarte told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Thursday. "And then when you add on that, Max Scherzer -- a three-time Cy Young winner -- his debut, fans were craving this one -- especially after getting shut out the night before. I think this was all pent-up, and by far, the most electric atmosphere game I've been to in the 2021 season."
Scherzer, who was acquired by the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Nationals last week, completed seven innings of work for the seventh time this season. In 20 starts (118 innings), the right-hander owns a 2.75 ERA with 157 strikeouts, and his WHIP is also at a career-low 0.86.
According to FiveThirtyEight projections, the Dodgers (65-44) currently have a 56-percent chance to win their ninth consecutive NL West crown, and their 24-percent chance to win the World Series and repeat as champions ranks best in baseball.
The entire LA sports conversation between Duarte and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.