Max Scherzer Can Eclipse Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw's Legacy in Game 7

Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday night is filled to the brim with captivating storylines.

Can the Astros avoid choking away a 3-2 lead at home or will the Nationals become the first time in MLB history to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy by winning all four games on the road? And Zack Greinke, who Houston traded for at the deadline for this very reason, will get the chance to live up to his billing. Will he rise to the occasion or falter under the pressure?

Those narratives alone make for must-see TV, but the most significant of them surrounds Max Scherzer and the potential of him eclipsing the legacies of Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander with an imposing showing on the bump tonight.

JV and Kersh, along with Scherzer, are the three best pitchers of their respective generation. That much is certain.

That tale, however, turns on its head once October, most notably the World Series, comes around.

Across 26.2 innings in the World Series, Kershaw has logged a toxic 5.40 ERA along with a 1-2 record. Verlander's numbers are somehow far worse as he's compiled a 5.68 ERA across 38 innings, to go with an historically bad 0-6 mark after his loss in Game 6.

We could go on for hours about the shortcomings of Verlander and Kershaw in the postseason, but those numbers virtually tell the whole story.

Then, there's Mad Max, who thoroughly out-dueled Gerrit Cole in Game 1, surrendering just two runs while striking out seven across five grueling innings. On top of it all, he owns a 3.36 ERA in 107 innings throughout his playoff career.

Thats not even to mention Scherzer's remarkable recovery from neck spasms that had him barely able to move 48 hours ago.

If Scherzer is somehow able to return and twirl a gem en route to the Nationals first world championship in franchise history, his legacy will be cemented as superior to that of Kershaw and Verlander.