Dodgers: Max Scherzer owning Padres adds insult to injury over trade deadline

The July 30 trade deadline was officially the beginning of the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres heading in complete opposite directions.

Remember when the Pads were *this* close to trading for Max Scherzer? Esteemed MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported it! Everyone truly thought the NL West arms race would get that much more competitive. The Padres getting stronger and the Giants not going away? Come on.

But then all hell broke loose when multiple reports suggested the Pads-Nats deal for Scherzer “wasn’t done yet.” And not too longer after, the Dodgers swooped in with the midsummer blockbuster, acquiring Scherzer and fellow All-Star Trea Turner from Washington to increase their chances of going back to back.

Scherzer’s performance against the Padres on Thursday night really added insult to injury in regard to San Diego’s letdown of a trade deadline, too. Maybe next year you can be our “rival,” guys.

Max Scherzer owning the Padres is sweet revenge for the Dodgers.

Since joining the Dodgers, Mad Max is 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA and 0.82 WHIP across his first five starts. And he answered the call on Thursday night because the Dodgers were in a bit of a precarious spot after playing 16 innings the evening prior.

The bullpen was taxed. LA needed a lengthy outing to avoid further usage. It wouldn’t be easy, either. The Pads’ backs were against the wall. They fought the last two nights and really needed to avoid the sweep to preserve whatever morale was left.

Instead, Scherzer crushed it and demoralized them, pitching 7.2 scoreless frames with 10 strikeouts.

The Dodgers are 19-4 since the trade deadline. The Padres are 8-15. Only 2.5 games separated these teams back on July 30. Now? 13.5.

Though San Diego’s offense has been an immense problem over the last month, their decimated starting rotation hasn’t helped. Yu Darvish missed two weeks with a back strain before losing on Thursday night. Ryan Weathers has regressed considerably. Blake Snell hasn’t been himself. Chris Paddack has been bad. Dinelson Lamet’s season-long injury struggles haven’t helped, either.

The point we’re trying to make? The Padres could’ve REALLY used Scherzer.

Sorry, though! The Dodgers had a rotation crisis of their own, losing Dustin May and Trevor Bauer for the year in addition to Clayton Kershaw’s extended absence.

AJ Preller can certainly make headlines with his splashes, but it’s clear Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers are king. Scherzer stomping on the Padres’ throat last night put the exclamation point on that.

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