The Blue Jays included Scherzer on their roster for the ALCS against the Mariners, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer was left of the ALDS roster but is back for the championship series with Toronto needing some more length for the seven-game series. It remains to be seen if the 41-year-old will step into the Blue Jays' rotation or if he'll operate out of the bullpen versus Seattle.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Excluded from ALDS roster
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Scherzer isn't listed on the Blue Jays' ALDS roster.
After posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over 25 innings across his final six starts of the regular season, Scherzer will now watch the ALDS from the sidelines. He could rejoin the active roster prior to the ALCS if the Blue Jays advance past the Yankees, but the veteran's recent performance may prevent him from seeing much action for the duration of Toronto's postseason run.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Early trouble leads to loss
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Scherzer (5-5) took the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox, surrendering four runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out five over five innings.
The veteran was hit hard from the start, giving up five straight hits in the first inning that plated three runs before later serving up a solo homer to Masataka Yoshida in the fifth. The 10 hits marked a season high allowed for Scherzer, who has now been roughed up for 25 runs in 25 innings across his last six starts. The 41-year-old right-hander has struggled badly down the stretch and will finish the regular season with a 5.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 82:23 K:BB across 85 frames.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Obliterated in loss
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Scherzer (5-4) coughed up seven runs on seven hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday at Kansas City. He struck out two.
The future Hall of Famer posted the second-shortest start of his 18-year career, with the briefest being a one-out appearance June 11, 2021 he left with injury. Despite generating a respectable eight whiffs out of his 45 total pitches, Scherzer was pounded by the Royals, as five of the seven hits he allowed went for extra bases. Overall, the 41-year-old now sports a 5.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB while giving up 18 long balls in 80 total frames. Scherzer will look to bounce back in his next outing, currently slated to come at home against the Rays next weekend.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rebounds after rough first frame
Rotowire
Scherzer allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on Saturday.
Scherzer labored in the first inning, giving up two runs and allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base. The veteran hurler bounced back impressively thereafter, keeping the Orioles off the scoreboard for the remainder of his outing. Overall, Scherzer tossed 64 of 91 pitches for strikes and got 14 whiffs en route to five punchouts. This was the first time he's been able to complete five innings in his past three starts and the first time he's allowed fewer than four runs across his past four outings. Scherzer lines up for a road matchup in Tampa Bay his next time out.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Set to pitch Sunday
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Scherzer (back) is now slated to start Sunday's series finale against the Yankees in The Bronx, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Scherzer contended with upper-back tightness during his most recent start last Sunday against the Brewers, but since he reported improvement afterward and was able to go through his between-starts routine, the right-hander was initially penciled in to start Saturday's contest versus the Yankees. Though Scherzer hasn't suffered any setbacks, manager John Schneider said he made the decision to push the 41-year-old back an extra day in order to give him more time to recover from the injury. Scherzer isn't expected to be operating with any restrictions during Sunday's outing.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Likely to start Saturday
Rotowire
Scherzer (back) is feeling better and is on track to make his regular turn through the rotation Saturday against the Yankees, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The 41-year-old surrendered four runs over four innings Sunday versus the Brewers while pitching through upper-back tightness, but he's been able to go through his regular between-starts routine the past couple days. Assuming Scherzer has no further issues, he should be ready to go for Saturday's divisional matchup.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Managing upper-back tightness
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Manager John Schneider said after Sunday's 8-4 win over the Brewers that Scherzer was pitching through upper-back tightness, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. The right-hander took a no-decision after striking out one and giving up four runs on nine hits and no walks across four innings.
The 41-year-old threw 45 of 67 pitches for strikes and generated just three whiffs while surrendering a pair of home runs, with his early exit ending a run of six straight starts of at least six innings. The back issue hasn't seemed to stir up much cause for concern, though it's worth keeping an eye out for any updates on Scherzer ahead of his next turn through the rotation, which currently lines up for next weekend on the road against the Yankees.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Notches fifth win
Rotowire
Scherzer (5-2) earned the win Monday against Minnesota, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk over six innings with five strikeouts.
The grizzled veteran snapped a streak of five consecutive quality starts but managed to secure his 221st career victory. Outside a pair of homers conceded to Matt Wallner, Scherzer was in control of this game, allowing just three additional baserunners and generating 13 whiffs out of 97 total pitches. The 41-year-old has rounded into a dependable fantasy option once again this season, pitching to a 3.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 61:16 K:BB across 66 total frames. Scherzer is tentatively scheduled to make his next appearance at Cincinnati early next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Logs fifth straight quality start
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-4) got the win Tuesday over the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four in six innings.
Scherzer's control was a little shaky, as he issued three walks for the second time in his past three outings, but he was able to limit the damage in crucial situations. Tuesday's outing was a fifth straight quality start for Scherzer, though he hasn't topped five strikeouts since he punched out 11 on July 27. During his streak of quality starts, Scherzer has posted a 2.25 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 28:7 K:BB in 32 innings. He lines up for a home start versus Minnesota to open up next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Goes seven innings in third win
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Scherzer (3-2) earned the win Thursday over the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits and a walk across seven innings. He struck out three.
Scherzer was excellent Thursday, blanking Chicago for five innings before allowing a lone run on a Michael Busch homer in the sixth. The 41-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 2.42 ERA over his last four starts (26 innings), lowering his ERA to 3.83 on the year with a 1.07 WHIP and 52 strikeouts across 10 starts (54 innings). Scherzer will look to keep rolling in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week in Pittsburgh.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Comes up short in loss
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-2) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings to take the loss versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Scherzer put in a decent effort, but Clayton Kershaw was just a little better for the Dodgers. Scherzer's 98 pitches were a season high, and he threw 63 strikes to earn his third straight quality start, though he's taken both of his losses on the year during that span. He's now at a 4.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 49:11 K:BB through 47 innings across nine starts this season. The 41-year-old's next outing is projected to be another tough one, as he's lined up for a home start versus the Cubs next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Nabs second win
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-1) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Royals, allowing one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The 41-year-old right-hander produced his third quality start in his last four trips to the mound on 84 pitches (57 strikes), and Scherzer was shutting out Kansas City until Salvador Perez took him deep in the sixth inning. Scherzer continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the yard -- he's served up nine homers in 41 innings on the season -- but he's doing a better job of late of keeping the bases empty for them, posting a 4.13 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 28:2 K:BB in 24 innings over that four-start stretch. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Dodgers.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Fans 11 in loss
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Scherzer (1-1) yielded three runs on three hits over seven innings Sunday, striking out 11 and taking a loss against Detroit.
Scherzer had one hiccup in the outing, and it resulted in a three-run shot by Gleyber Torres in the third inning. Aside from that frame, Scherzer did not allow another baserunner in his best and longest start of 2025. He forced 15 whiffs on 96 pitches and produced his first double-digit strikeout performance since 2023. Scherzer had completed six innings just once in his first six outings this season. He's sporting a 4.89 ERA with a 39:8 K:BB across 35 innings. Scherzer is lined up to face the Royals at home next weekend.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Hurt by hard contact in no-decision
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Scherzer didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.
The Yankees ambushed the veteran hurler for three runs in the opening frame, but Scherzer was able to settle in for four innings of one-run ball thereafter. Four of his five hits allowed went for extra bases, and the 40-year-old right-hander has yet to yield fewer than two runs in any of his first six starts this season. Scherzer will try to improve on a 5.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB over 28 innings in his next scheduled outing, which is slated for this weekend in Detroit against the first-place Tigers.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Earns win with quality start
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.
Scherzer threw a season-high 90 pitches (59 strikes) to secure his first win and first quality start of the season. He was sharp through five innings before serving up a two-run home run to Nick Kurtz and a solo shot to Tyler Soderstrom in the sixth. Scherzer is now at a 4.70 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 23 innings over five starts this year. He's dealt with inflammation in his thumb throughout the year and will likely have to manage the issue in the second half as well, which could limit his effectiveness and ability to pitch deeper into games if the issue flares up.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Cleared to start Friday
Rotowire
Scherzer (thumb) is listed as the Blue Jays' probable starter for Friday's game against the Athletics in Sacramento.
Though Scherzer continued to deal with inflammation in his right thumb during his most recent start last Saturday against the Angels, he'll be ready to take the hill for his next turn through the rotation on five days' rest. Scherzer has yet to reach 90 pitches in any of his four appearances this season, and with the All-Star break looming, the Blue Jays may not be willing to overextend him during Friday's start.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Battles thumb through four innings
Rotowire
Scherzer gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings Saturday in a no-decision against the Angels and dealt with significant thumb inflammation during the start, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Scherzer said after the outing that he was optimistic he'd make his next scheduled start with an extra day of rest, adding that he battled to take the ball Saturday, failing to accomplish the normal weight lifting and bullpens that he typically does in between starts. "I rely on feel," Scherzer said after Saturday's start. "I really didn't have that going into this." He was on a pitch count of around 70, and while it's possible he'll go deeper into his scheduled start next week Friday in Sacramento, it's also possible that his thumb inflammation doesn't subside and he gets scratched or pushed back.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Cleared to start Saturday
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (thumb/forearm) will start Saturday's game against the Angels, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Scherzer battled right thumb fatigue and also some forearm tightness during his previous start in Monday's win over the Yankees. However, the 40-year-old was able to throw his between-starts bullpen session Thursday without any apparent issues, clearing the way for him to take his regular turn in the rotation Saturday. Scherzer's start against the Yankees was easily the best of his three this season for Toronto, as he struck out seven, didn't issue a walk and permitted just two runs over five innings. He threw only 71 pitches in that outing, however, and is unlikely to be ready to handle a full workload Saturday.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Dealt with thumb fatigue Monday
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer dealt with some fatigue in his right thumb during Monday's start versus the Yankees, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The thumb fatigue helps explain why Scherzer was lifted after throwing just 71 pitches over five innings. Schneider indicated that Scherzer should be fine for his next turn in the rotation on Saturday versus the Angels, but it appears the 40-year-old right-hander isn't completely out of the woods when it comes to an issue Scherzer has said he's been dealing with since 2023.
