Max Scherzer, if this was indeed the conclusion of his career, certainly made it memorable. The 42-year-old, who has clinched the Cy Young award three times, gave everything he had during what might have been his last start on Sunday. He pitched 114 pitches over seven innings, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
And he pulled it off on only three days’ rest.
In this game, Scherzer allowed just one earned run, totaling six hits against him, while issuing one walk and striking out seven batters in what was his final appearance of the 2026 season.
“That was amazing,” he reflected after the game, expressing how the crowd’s energy fueled him. “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.”
The game also featured a striking moment that may serve as a fitting end to Scherzer’s career. At one point, Blue Jays manager John Schneider approached the mound, seemingly ready to take Scherzer out, who had already thrown over 100 pitches.
However, Scherzer quickly dismissed him, prompting a cheer from the crowd. Schneider then turned back, allowing Scherzer to finish the inning.
“If that doesn’t sum up Max Scherzer, I don’t know what does,” Schneider commented afterward.
True to his character, Scherzer completed the inning and exited to a standing ovation, tipping his cap to grateful fans as his teammates awaited him outside the dugout. It certainly felt like a farewell, though it’s not confirmed yet that he’s done playing.
As of now, Scherzer hasn’t officially declared his retirement. He plans to take his time, stating that he will wait until the offseason to decide if he’ll return for a 20th season in the majors. “I’ve talked to everybody in my inner circle, and we all kind of feel the same way,” Scherzer mentioned. “We don’t need to make a decision today. Get to the offseason and just see how things unfold.”
He also pointed out the looming labor negotiations in MLB between the league and the Players’ Association, which may lead to challenges, especially at the start of the 2027 season. “We’ve also got a lot of uncertainty next year with all the labor issues,” he noted, adding unpredictability to how the upcoming season might unfold or what possibilities might be available to him.
On a personal milestone note, Scherzer’s seven strikeouts in the game brought his career total to 3,557, placing him ninth in MLB history, just three behind his former teammate Justin Verlander, who had his own final game the day before.
This game represented Scherzer’s 501st career appearance and his 492nd start, wrapping up the 2026 season with a record of 4-9 and an ERA of 5.74.
