Max Scherzer

The Washington Nationals lost five of their last six games coming into Wednesday's contest, but Max Scherzer wasn't about to let them lose another. All the dominant right-hander did was tie a major league record with 20 strikeouts in one game as he led Washington to the 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Hey, not sure if you've heard, but 2015 has been a pretty lousy season for the Washington Nationals.

OK, that's an understatement. More like an "epically disappointing" season. Or "colossally horrendous." Or, well, you get the idea.

The Washington Nationals have been mired in turmoil over the past week, but Max Scherzer made the pain of dugout brawls and clubhouse chaos disappear Saturday night as he twirled his second no-hitter of the season in a 2-0 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field. 

A few days after Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon choked Bryce Harper in the dugout, the face of the franchise once again was getting "choked" by a teammate.

Don't worry, it was all in good fun this time.

Yoenis Cespedes has been a game-changer for the New York Mets ever since landing in Queens.

As the MLB playoff chase hits the stretch drive, there isn't a single major leaguer who will have a bigger impact in determining how the race will shake out for his given team than the Cuban masher.

In the process of compiling the list of the 10 crucial MLB players who will decide the September pennant race outcomes, three types of big leaguers made the grade.

After throwing just one complete game in the first 210 starts of his career, Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer went the distance for a third time in his last four outings in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Major League Baseball released its sixth All-Star Game balloting update Monday, with final results for the July 14 game in Cincinnati to be announced Sunday. Voters have until Thursday night to cast online, although there is always the threat of some votes being “scrubbed” away when the final count is announced.

After tossing a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates last weekend, Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning in Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, making him the first pitcher since Dwight Gooden in May 1996 to throw 16 consecutive no-hit innings, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

Admit it: Somewhere around the fifth inning of Max Scherzer's start Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, you were expecting history. Not just hoping for it or believing it was possible. You assumed it would happen.

1. Warning: Unwritten Rules Ahead

Jose Tabata, villain for either (a) leaning into or (b) not getting out of the way of a hanging slider and ruining Max Scherzer's perfect game?

Or the latest victim of the Internet rushing to a speedy and unfair judgment?