Max Scherzer put together his best start of the season on Sunday afternoon, firing six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits in the Mets' fourth straight win.
For Scherzer, it was a big start to help alleviate the recent struggles he had dealt with in 2023, after getting rocked for six runs against the lowly Tigers in his first start of May, Scherzer has now allowed just one run in his last 11 innings of work.
Sunday's gem saw Scherzer up the use of his curveball, though the veteran righty told reporters after the game that it was more a choice of comfort rather than strategy.
"I was dealing with my thumb callus that had split open, so I was dealing with a bad thumb today," Scherzer said. "The only thing I could really do, the curveball, I shifted the grip on my curveball…and it actually wound up being one of the only pitches I could throw today.
"The curveball and the changeup were pain-free today, so I was able to snap off some good curveballs and use it when I needed it."
Asked how limited he felt after the callus split open, Scherzer made an analogy that suggested it drastically diminished what he was able to do, though clearly, he found a way to fight through it.
"The way I'd equate this," Scherzer said. "It's like playing basketball with a sprained ankle."
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