The Toronto Blue Jays are counting on Max Scherzer to bring his usual fiery and competitive spirit to the mound in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
Expressing his excitement for the high-pressure situation, Scherzer stated, “I love it. This is what you play for. You want to have the ball in this situation, you want to be pitching in the post-season.”
Having not pitched since his regular-season finale on Sept. 24 versus the Boston Red Sox, the 41-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner is set to make his 26th postseason start and 31st appearance.
Scherzer and fellow right-hander Chris Bassitt were included in Toronto’s ALCS roster after missing the Division Series against the New York Yankees. Bassitt showcased his skills by pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief during Monday night’s 10-3 defeat to the Mariners.
Bassitt expressed his confidence in Scherzer, saying, “I expect Max to be Max, in the aspect of just go out there and execute at a very, very high level.”
Despite a recent postseason struggle with an 0-3 record in his last eight starts since the 2019 World Series, Scherzer aims to bounce back. He faced challenges with a 1-3 record and a 9.00 earned-run average in his final six starts of the 2025 season.
Acknowledging his performance dip towards the end of the season, Scherzer admitted to needing time to recover and prepare his body. Manager John Schneider revealed that neck pain had hindered Scherzer’s performance. Additionally, Scherzer faced a hiatus earlier in the year due to right thumb inflammation.
Signed to a one-year contract worth $15.5 million US with Toronto in February, Scherzer had a mixed season, going 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts, marking his 18th season in the major leagues.
Looking ahead to Game 4, Scherzer emphasized his determination, stating, “I don’t want to sit here and go backwards and blame injuries for any way I pitched. When I take the mound, I take the mound, and I have the attitude [that] I’m going to win no matter what.”
Following a resounding 13-4 victory in Game 3, the Blue Jays seek to continue their momentum in Seattle after dropping the first two games of the series. To stay alive, they must secure at least two wins out of the three games in Seattle to bring the series back to Toronto.
Confident in the team’s abilities, Scherzer highlighted the Blue Jays’ resilience throughout the season, emphasizing the importance of responding positively to the challenges ahead.
