Super Scherzer

Everyone knows Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, but did you know Max Scherzer is out-pitching Verlander this season? It's stat time, boys and girls!

Records: Scherzer 10-0, Verlander 8-4

Earned run average: Scherzer 3.01, Verlander 3.41 (can that be right?)

Strikeouts: Scherzer 116, Verlander 101

K/9 IP: Scherzer 10.84, Verlander 10.45

Walk/strikeout ratio: Scherzer 4.83, Verlander 3.61

WHIP (one of those Sabermetric stats, I think): Scherzer 0.91, Verlander 1.30

I want to make this clear -- Scherzer has not supplanted Verlander as the recognized ace of Detroit's pitching staff. Not yet, anyway. But what is clear is that Scherzer is having a breakout year, and he certainly has the lead on Verlander for Cy Young consideration as we near next month's All-Star Break.

So if you haven't gotten to know Max Scherzer, now is the time.