Overview
- Scherzer enters Friday's start against the Guardians with 3,499 career strikeouts, 11 shy of passing Walter Johnson for 10th all time.
- Only Justin Verlander has crossed 3,500 since Randy Johnson did it in 2002, which shows how rare this milestone is.
- He says taking up piano last July eased an inflamed right thumb after exercises and cortisone shots failed.
- He now treats piano work as maintenance, playing three to four times a week and traveling with a portable keyboard.
- The 41-year-old, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner, returned for 12 second-half starts in 2025 and posted a 3.76 ERA in the postseason.