Game 2 of a doubleheader showdown between the Mets and the Tigers! It’s the return of Mad Max. Scherzer, that is, is back on the mound for the Mets after serving his suspension. Oh, you didn’t hear? He got slapped with an automatic suspension for allegedly doctoring baseballs. Scandalous, right?

So, here’s the deal. Scherzer’s coming back as a -220 favorite against Michael Lorenzen and the Tigers, with a total of 8.5. It feels like the last time the Mets played was in 2020, but hey, we’re back on the diamond today! And, of course, they scheduled this double whammy in some pretty wild weather, but that won’t stop Scherzer from returning.

Now, let’s get real for a second. We all know Mad Max wasn’t just wiping sweat off his glove, right? When you bring your kids into it, you know something’s fishy. But here’s the thing, the former Cy Young winner isn’t the same pitcher he was a year ago or any year before. No sticky stuff, no juice, and father time ain’t going to cut him any slack. We’re probably going to see a decline in his performance, but lucky for him, the Tigers aren’t exactly a bunch of sluggers.

So, here’s the game plan, Mets fans: get Scherzer an early lead and keep the pressure on in the first five innings. That’s the key to nailing this game and maximizing Max’s return.