Ranking the 10 best pitchers in the National League East

2) Best pitchers in the NL East: Max Scherzer

This past offseason, the Mets signed Max Scherzer to form the best 1-2 punch in a rotation potentially ever. Unfortunately this plan didn't get off the ground on Opening Day as deGrom missed the first four months of the season. Scherzer missed substantial time as well but when he's pitched, he's been Max Scherzer.

The 38-year-old has pitched like the three-time Cy Young Award winner that he is which is amazing considering his age and career workload.

The right-hander has gone 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 17 starts this season. He's allowed three runs or less in all but two of his starts, one of which had three runs given up by Adam Ottavino in Atlanta.

Scherzer has been the same pitcher he's always been, even with some diminished velocity. He doesn't walk anyone (1.7 BB/9), doesn't allow home runs (0.7 HR/9), and strikes out a ton of batters (11.1 K/9).

An argument can be made for Scherzer being the second best pitcher in the game. The Mets are very hard to beat with deGrom and Scherzer headlining a rotation in any given playoff series because it's almost guaranteed dominance.

Scherzer has been the big game pitcher the Mets signed him to be, with outstanding starts against teams like the Braves, Yankees, Phillies, and Cardinals. I can't wait to see him pitch down the stretch and in October in orange and blue.