Max Scherzer tossed eight shutout innings, striking out 10 batters in the Washington Nationals' 4-0 win against the Baltimore Orioles. Scherzer lowered his ERA to 0.87 with 46 strikeouts and two walks against American League opposition this season.

Scherzer recorded his third game this season with at least 10 strikeouts and no more than two hits allowed. No other player has done so in multiple games.

In addition, Scherzer recorded his 11th game with at least 10 K's this season, most in the MLB. Clayton Kershaw ranks second with nine such games.

Extending his own Nationals record

With his performance, Scherzer recorded his ninth game of at least 10 strikeouts and no walks as a Nationals player, most in team history.

How was he able to do it?

Scherzer held batters to a .077 batting average, his lowest in a game this season. It is his third game this season pitching at least seven innings and holding batters to a batting average at or below .100. Only Jake Arrieta (six) has more such starts this season.

Orioles hitters chased 55 percent of Scherzer's fastballs, his highest in any game since August 2015. By getting batters to chase his fastball, Scherzer did not allow a hit on a fastball for the third time this season.

He threw his slider 32 percent of the time, his second-highest rate in any game this season. And it worked. Scherzer struck out six batters with his slider, tied for his most in any game this season.