Max Scherzer Dominates Reds in Season-Ending Win for Blue Jays

Scherzer’s Dominant Season-Ending Start

Scherzer allowed just one run and six hits while walking only one batter during his final outing of the year. Operating on short rest, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion relied on crowd energy to power through 77 strikes. “That was amazing,” Scherzer said. “The adrenaline starts kicking in, the fans start getting in, and that’s when I could start feeding off of the crowd here at the Rogers Centre. I really could just reach back and just felt like I was unlimited.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised the veteran starter’s competitive drive following the game. “If that doesn’t sum up Max Scherzer, I don’t know what does,” Schneider said. Reds manager Terry Francona also acknowledged Scherzer’s historic impact on the sport. “I wish we’d have won but it’s hard not to tip your cap or clap because he’s been so much of what’s good in baseball, and you’ve got to respect that,” Francona said.

Historical Milestone and Career Strikeout Tally

With his seven strikeouts on Sunday, Scherzer pushed his career total to 3,557 strikeouts, holding the ninth-highest mark in major league history. He stands just three strikeouts behind former teammate Justin Verlander, who made the final start of his career on Saturday. Scherzer finished the season with a 4-9 record.

The veteran pitcher fell just one out short of reaching 85 innings pitched for the season, a milestone that would have triggered a $1 million bonus. He previously earned $1 million bonuses for reaching both 65 and 75 innings. To maximize his performance on Sunday, Scherzer skipped his usual bullpen session and upper-body weightlifting after throwing 93 pitches over five innings against Baltimore the previous Wednesday.

Emotional Exit and Uncertain Future for 2027

Before the game, a sellout crowd gave Scherzer a standing ovation as he took the mound alone while his teammates briefly remained in the dugout. Later in the game, fans at the Rogers Centre booed manager John Schneider when he walked to the mound with two outs in the seventh inning, wanting Scherzer to stay in. Scherzer retired Will Banfield on a popup before finally exiting in the eighth inning after walking Oswaldo Cabrera.

After handing over the ball, Scherzer climbed into the stands next to the dugout to embrace his wife and children. “Just a cool moment to be able to see them,” Scherzer said. “I wanted to have them here.” Schneider reflected on managing the veteran over his two seasons in Toronto, telling him on the mound, “Thank you for letting me be part of your unbelievable career, and I wouldn’t want any other 42-year-old psychopath on my team other than you.”

Regarding his playing future, Scherzer stated before Saturday’s game that he will wait until the offseason to decide if he wants to return for a 20th major league season in 2027. “When you get away from baseball, you get a little bit more clarity of your decision-making,” Scherzer said.