CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 09: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Stacy Revere)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 09: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Stacy Revere)
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer won his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award Wednesday, beating out three-time winner Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer’s rotation-mate Stephen Strasburg finished third, his highest career finish.
Scherzer also won the 2013 American League Cy Young — given to the best pitcher in each league — while pitching for the Detroit Tigers. He has finished in the top five in voting each of the past five seasons.
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 09: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Washington Nationals’ pitcher Max Scherzer throws during a baseball workout at Nationals Park, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, in Washington. The Nationals host the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally
Washington Nationals’ pitcher Max Scherzer walks to the dugout during a baseball workout at Nationals Park, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, in Washington. The Nationals host the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Photo/John Bazemore
Nats pitcher Max Scherzer and his wife Erica are funding all adoption fees at the Humane Rescue Alliance through Sunday Sept. 3 to encourage adoptions so the Rescue Alliance can make space for animals being relocated from Texas due to Hurricane Harvey.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
CORRECTS TO FOURTH INNING NOT THIRD Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws a strike for his 2000th career strike out during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 11, 2017, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
Scherzer, 33, finished the 2017 campaign 16-6 with a career-low 2.51 ERA, also setting a career best in WHIP (0.90) and strikeout rate (12.0/9 IP). He led the NL with 268 strikeouts and made his fifth consecutive All-Star appearance.
Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians won his second American League Cy Young Award Wednesday evening.
Nationals’ Daniel Murphy won the Silver Slugger Award for National League second basemen last week.
