Max Scherzer keeps asking for pinch-hitting opportunities

Max Scherzer isn't content with dominating MLB on the mound. He wants to show that he can handle a bat too.

Scherzer has nine hits, all singles, in 35 at-bats this season for a .257 batting average and apparently thinks he could do even better given a few more opportunities at the plate.

According to Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams, Scherzer has been asking to be used as a pinch-hitter in games he's not starting and he's pretty darn persistent:

[On this week's StewPod: Looking back at a fun week in baseball with Jeff Passan]

That is awesome. We can just imagine Scherzer swaggering into the manager's office with a printout of his numbers and planting them on Williams' desk with a huge knowing smile across his face.

Now we aren't likely to see Scherzer's wishes granted any time soon as he's simply too valuable as a pitcher for the Nationals. The injury risk is small but it's still there, and just earlier this year we saw the St. Louis Cardinals lose Adam Wainwright for the season with a torn Achilles he suffered while batting.

Scherzer, who pitched a no-hitter in June, will have to make do with getting his hits every fifth day while mowing down opposing hitters. So far that's been more than enough in helping get the Nationals to the top of the NL East in his first season in Washington and put himself in the early Cy Young Award discussion.

BLS H/T: /r/baseball

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr