Can Scherzer save Face today?

If Max Scherzer is credited with a victory in Detroit’s game against Kansas City today, he’ll tie Roy Face’s 1959 season for the best winning percentage for pitchers with at least one decision for every 10 games their team played. They will be, for the moment anyway, locked together at 18-1. Unlike Scherzer, Face did all his work in relief. He won his first 17 decisions that year, but finally lost to the Dodgers on September 11.

In truth, Face - seen here on a special All-Star Game supplement from the Pittsburgh Post -- blew nine leads he was assigned to protect in 1959 and came by four of his victories by this route - but we need not dwell on that unpleasantness. After all, if we’ve learned nothing else over the years, a win is a win and they need never be qualified.