Max Scherzer reiterates he doesn't plan to retire after wrapping 18th MLB season with World Series loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers are again World Series champions after their Game 7 comeback win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Miguel Rojas hit a game-tying home run in the ninth and Will Smith hit a go-ahead home run in the 11th. Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the final eight outs one day after throwing six innings in Game 6. That earned him World Series MVP honors.

Before L.A.'s late-inning comeback, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer walked off the field to a standing ovation, having fired 4 ⅓ innings of one-run ball. That performance will ultimately go down as a footnote. After Game 7, the 41-year-old Scherzer reiterated that he has no immediate plans to retire, and expects to continue pitching in 2026.

"I think I'll give a full answer on that later," Scherzer said when asked about retirement after Game 7. "But I will say this: I just don't see how that's the last pitch I've ever thrown."

This season marked Scherzer's 18th in the majors, a legendary career that has included two World Series rings, three Cy Young awards, eight All-Star nods.

Scherzer limped to the finish in the regular season, pitching to a 9.00 ERA with eight home runs allowed in 25 innings in his final six starts. He pitched well in the postseason though, authoring a 3.77 ERA in three starts. Scherzer doesn't pitch deep into games these days, but he can still be effective in the innings he does pitch.

Pitching is always in demand, so, if Scherzer does want to pitch in 2026, a team will surely offer him a contract, likely a contender. He's still a viable mid-to-back-end starter and he's also a great clubhouse presence. For now, Scherzer and the Blue Jays will regroup following the Game 7 loss, and figure out 2026 later.