Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Turns clock back in season finale
Rotowire
Scherzer (4-9) notched the win Sunday against the Reds, striking out seven while allowing one run on six hits and one walk in seven innings.
In what may have been his final major-league start, Scherzer put forth a vintage display Sunday. The future Hall of Famer worked seven innings for just the second time all year, generating an outstanding 19 whiffs and emptying the tank for a season-high 114 pitches on just three days' rest. Scherzer, 42, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he'll decide over the winter if he's ready to hang up his cleats following a decorated 19-year big-league career. He appeared to be on his last legs in the first half, working to a 10.23 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over 22 innings before the All-Star break, but Scherzer did show signs of life with a 4.16 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 62.2 frames after the break.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Starting Sunday
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Scherzer will start Sunday's regular-season finale against the Reds, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer said that he's still undecided about whether he'll retire after this season, but he'll officially get to make at least one more start on a big-league mound before he hangs up his cleats. The 42-year-old hasn't been particularly effective this season, posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 77.2 innings, but facing a Reds offense that's turned in a .690 OPS since the beginning of September could allow him to end his Hall of Fame career on a high note.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Could start Sunday
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Scherzer could be the starter for the Blue Jays' regular-season finale against the Reds on Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
With the Blue Jays eliminated from playoff contention, Sunday's game could be Scherzer's final start in his major-league career, in what would be in front of the home crowd at Rogers Centre. It hasn't exactly been the final season that the veteran right-hander has hoped for, with Scherzer sporting a 3-9 record (across 17 starts) with a 6.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 77.2 innings. Still, Sunday's matinee would be the opportunity for Scherzer to end his career on a high note, assuming he hangs up the cleats during the offseason.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Fans seven in Wednesday's loss
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Scherzer (3-9) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
Getting swept in the twin bill officially eliminated the Blue Jays from playoff contention, but Scherzer went down firing as he tossed 60 of 93 pitches for strikes. The 42-year-old right-hander has a 4.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB over his last six starts and 32.2 innings, but his personal campaign may not be done -- after Wednesday's performance, Scherzer sits four career strikeouts behind former teammate Justin Verlander (hamstring) for eighth place on MLB's all-time list. Toronto manager suggested before Wednesday's outing that Scherzer could pitch again at home Sunday versus Cincinnati in the regular-season finale, both to give a potential farewell to home fans and to try and catch Verlander.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Option for short-rest start Sunday
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Scherzer could pitch on short rest Sunday versus the Reds, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Scherzer is starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore, but it might not be his final outing of the season. Bringing the 42-year-old back on short rest could serve two purposes. One is that the impending free agent would get to pitch in front of the home crowd in Toronto one more time. Another is that Scherzer is currently 11 strikeouts behind Justin Verlander on the all-time list, so he could pad that total this weekend. Scherzer has yet to commit one way or another in regard to continuing his career in 2027.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Game postponed Tuesday
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Scherzer won't start as scheduled Tuesday against the Orioles since the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
The right-hander had been lined up to potentially make two starts during the final week of the regular season, but Tuesday's postponement likely means Toronto will have to go in a different direction Sunday against Cincinnati. The game is being made up via a doubleheader Wednesday, with Scherzer likely to start one of those contests. The 42-year-old has a 4.26 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 40:20 K:BB across 50.2 innings since returning from back and thumb injuries in late July.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rebounds for third win
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Scherzer (3-8) earned the win Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing a run on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.
It was a strong bounce-back effort from Scherzer, who gave up six runs over five innings in a loss to Baltimore his last time out. The veteran right-hander allowed a two-out run in the first inning before settling in and blanking Detroit over his final four frames. Scherzer's ERA now sits at 6.07 through 16 starts (72.2 innings) this season with a 1.36 WHIP and 54:31 K:BB. He's currently in line to face the Orioles on the road his next time out.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rocked for six runs in loss
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Scherzer (2-8) took the loss against the Orioles on Friday, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings.
Scherzer fell behind early by giving up a leadoff homer to Dylan Beavers in the first inning before allowing five more runs in the second. Scherzer kept the Orioles off the board over his final three innings, and while it wasn't the outing the veteran right-hander was hoping for, he was at least able complete five innings and preserve the Blue Jays' bullpen for the next couple of days. He's given up at least five earned runs five times this season and has a 6.38 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 67.2 innings. He's lined up to face the Tigers at home next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Hangs tough after rough first inning
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Scherzer allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Saturday.
Scherzer began his outing by allowing four straight batters to reach base on a hit-by-pitch, a double and two singles. That resulted in two Royals runs before the veteran hurler had recorded an out. Scherzer was able to bounce back, however, allowing just one more run and completing 5.2 frames on an efficient -- especially in light of how his start began -- 76 pitches. This wasn't anywhere close in quality to the 10-strikeout, seven-inning scoreless appearance Scherzer posted in his previous start, but it was nonetheless a gritty effort that ultimately helped his team to a win. After registering a 10.23 ERA across his first six starts this season, Scherzer has given up three or fewer earned runs in seven of his subsequent eight outings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Turns back clock in gem
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Scherzer (2-7) earned the win against the Mariners on Sunday, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in seven innings. He struck out 10.
Seattle didn't get into the hit column until the fourth inning in a vintage performance by the 42-year-old right-hander. It was easily Scherzer's best outing of the season -- he recorded season bests in innings, hits allowed and strikeouts -- and he even passed Gaylord Perry for ninth all-time in career punchouts. He'll look to build on Sunday's showing his next time out in Kansas City, where he'll take a 6.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 46:26 K:BB over 57 innings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Early control issues in loss
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Scherzer (1-7) took the loss against the Royals on Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four across five innings.
The five free passes were a season high for Scherzer, with three of those walks being issued to three of the first four batters he faced. He was able to limit the damage in the first inning to one run before allowing another run to score in the fifth, but he couldn't get quite enough help from his Blue Jays teammates to avoid taking a third consecutive loss. Still, Scherzer has allowed two runs or less in four of his last five outings, logging a 4.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 25.1 innings in that span. He's lined up to start this weekend at home against the Mariners.
Scherzer (1-6) took the loss against the Rays on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out one.
Jesus Sanchez misplayed a ball in left field that was popped up by Richie Palacios, which helped plate a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but it was still a discouraging outing by Scherzer. The seven runs allowed tied a season worst for the 42-year-old right-hander, who had pitched at least five innings while yielding three runs or fewer in his prior three starts. Scherzer will take a career-worst 7.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 32:20 K:BB across 45 innings into his next scheduled start at home against the Royals.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Strikes out four in hard-luck loss
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Scherzer (1-5) took the loss against the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four.
The 42-year-old right-hander looked spry on the bump Thursday, throwing a season-high 92 pitches in a strong outing. Scherzer is slowly beginning to turn an injury-plagued year around, tossing at least five innings while conceding three runs or fewer in three consecutive starts. He'll next set his sights toward improving on a career-worst 6.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB over 41 innings in a road matchup with the first-place Rays in pitcher-friendly Tampa Bay.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Top-10 all time in strikeouts
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Scherzer did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four across 5.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.
Scherzer turned back the clock in Philadelphia, keeping the Phillies off the board for the first five innings. His punchout of Kyle Schwarber in the sixth was his fourth of the game, and it moved Scherzer up to 10th on the all-time leaderboard with 3,516 career strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson. Unfortunately for Scherzer, the good times were short-lived after he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, leading to the right-hander being pulled. In what is likely Scherzer's last season, he needs 18 more strikeouts to match Gaylord Perry for ninth on the all-time Ks leaderboard. Scherzer's next start is scheduled for next week at the Rogers Centre against the Yankees.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Turns in quality start vs. Cards
Rotowire
Scherzer allowed one run on four hits and a walk across six innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Cardinals. He struck out five.
It was a strong bounce-back effort from Scherzer after he went only 2.2 innings in his first start back from the IL against the Nationals his last time out. Sunday's effort marked Scherzer's third quality start in eight outings this season and his first since April 18. Overall, the veteran right-hander sports a 7.92 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP and 23:15 K:BB across 30.2 innings this year. Scherzer is currently slated to face the Cubs on the road his next time out.
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