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Will Nationals’ Max Scherzer be sixth pitcher to win Cy Young in both leagues?

Max Scherzer is a finalist for the 2016 NL Cy Young. Will Scherzer become just the sixth pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young in both leagues?

Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v Washington Nationals - Game Five Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Max Scherzer’s second no-hitter of the season in 2015 made him the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one regular season since Nolan Ryan in 1973.

Informed of the unique nature of his accomplishment, Scherzer said he was at a loss for words.

"Speechless,” he said. “You mention that. You go out there and try to accomplish as much as you can, have as much success as you can, but when you start talking about that stuff, you don't even have words for it."

He joined a pretty elite list with his accomplishment.

Before Scherzer no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets in his first season in Washington D.C., only four pitchers in MLB history had thrown two no-hitters in one regular season:

Johnny Vander Meer (CIN, 1938 — consecutive no-hitters) Allie Reynolds (NYY, 1951), Virgil Trucks (DET, 1952) Nolan Ryan (CAL, 1973).

[ed. note - “Roy Halladay threw two no-hitters in one season in 2010, but one came in the postseason.”]

"I'm speechless about that,” Scherzer said when he was told about the elite company he was in.

“I don't know what to say. I said this earlier, you go out there and try to have as much success as possible, you try to accomplish as much as you can, do everything you can. When you start talking about the fact that I was able to -- as a team, remember, I can't say 'I threw two no-hitters' or something like that. Remember my teammates are behind me making great plays as well. To have that happen twice in a season?

“It's special and when you start talking about the history of the game, you can't really even think about that. That's why I'm speechless. Something that you'll be able to soak in in the offseason and really begin to appreciate what that really means."

This past season, Scherzer added his name to another short, impressive, list when he struck out 20 batters in a win over the Detroit Tigers, becoming just the fourth pitcher in MLB history to strike out 20 in nine innings, joining Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson.

"That's some serious company,” Scherzer said. “It won't sink in right now, but it's an amazing accomplishment.”

Tonight, the 32-year-old right-hander has another opportunity to become part of another fairly exclusive club.

Scherzer is up for the 2016 NL Cy Young Award.

The winner will be announced at 6:00 PM on the MLB Network.

If he wins, Scherzer, who took the AL Cy Young in 2013, would become just the sixth pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young in both leagues, joining Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Roy Halladay.