“Max Scherzer’s Slider Struggles and Putaway Problems: Can He Regain Dominance?”

Max Scherzer’s performance this season has been inconsistent, but he believes he has identified the issues with his slider and fastball. Scherzer has been hanging his slider more often, resulting in more home runs allowed compared to previous seasons. He has also struggled to put hitters away, with a lower putaway rate on his two-strike pitches. However, Scherzer has made adjustments to his slider mechanics, driving his left foot into the mound to improve command, and the results have been promising. His slider has looked sharper, reaching the bottom of the strike zone more frequently and generating a higher whiff rate. Additionally, Scherzer aims to attack hitters with his fastball in putaway situations, as his current putaway rate is lower than in previous years. By focusing on improving the command and location of his pitches, Scherzer hopes to regain his dominant form for the Texas Rangers. David Adler reported

The Texas Rangers have made a bold move by acquiring Max Scherzer in a stunning trade from the New York Mets just days before the Trade Deadline. If Scherzer can regain his dominant form, he could be the ace the Rangers need for their postseason push. However, this season has been a different story for Scherzer, as he has struggled to perform at his usual level.

One of the main issues Scherzer has identified is his slider. He has been hanging the pitch more often than usual, leading to disastrous results. In fact, Scherzer has given up nine home runs on sliders this season, which is more than he has allowed in any full season of his career. Four of those homers have come from sliders that were middle-middle in the strike zone, and eight of them have come from sliders in the upper two-thirds of the zone.

This lack of command with his slider has had a significant impact on Scherzer’s performance. In previous seasons, his slider was a dominant pitch, with a .165 batting average against, a .259 slugging percentage against, a 48.0% whiff rate, and a 40.8% strikeout rate. However, in 2023, those numbers have dipped to a .262 batting average against, a .595 slugging percentage against, a 34.3% whiff rate, and a 28.2% strikeout rate.

Not only has Scherzer struggled with command, but the shape of his slider has also changed. When he loses control of the pitch, it becomes slower and loopier, making it easier for hitters to square up. In previous seasons, his slider had an average velocity of 85.8 mph, 34.7 inches of drop, and 3.3 inches of break. This season, those numbers have dropped to 83.8 mph, 37.5 inches of drop, and 3.4 inches of break.

The good news is that Scherzer believes he has found a fix for his slider. In a recent game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he made a mid-game mechanical adjustment that allowed him to drive the slider down to the bottom of the strike zone. Since then, 80% of his sliders have reached the bottom third of the zone or lower, compared to just 69% in his previous starts. He has also generated a 52.9% whiff rate on his slider in his last two starts.

In his most recent outing, Scherzer’s slider averaged a season-high 85 mph, with only 35.4 inches of drop, resembling the sharp slider he is known for. This improvement is a promising sign that Scherzer is on his way to regaining his dominant form.

Another area where Scherzer needs to make adjustments is with his fastball. He has not been as effective in putaway situations, with a putaway rate of just 20.9% this season compared to 25.3% last year. His four-seamer has been particularly problematic, with a putaway rate of 18.3%, his lowest in the Statcast era.

To improve his fastball effectiveness, Scherzer needs to attack the strike zone with more consistency. In the past, about 70% of his fastball strikeouts came from pitches thrown inside the strike zone. He needs to regain that aggressiveness and challenge hitters with his four-seamer.

However, this season, Scherzer has been losing too many fastballs out of the zone in putaway situations. Fewer of his fastballs are pounding the zone, and more are ending up in chase and waste regions, where they are less effective.

Despite these struggles, Scherzer remains confident in his ability to bounce back. He believes he doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to regain his dominant form. His slider and fastball have been effective for a long time, and with some adjustments, he can return to being the typical Max Scherzer.

The Rangers are counting on Scherzer to be the ace they need for their postseason push. If he can regain his command and putaway ability, he could be the difference-maker for the team. Scherzer’s recent improvements with his slider and his determination to attack hitters with his fastball are positive signs that he is on the right track to dominate once again in Texas..