In what seemed like a distant memory just a few months ago, Max Scherzer took the mound at Rogers Centre with something to prove. The three-time Cy Young Award winner delivered six solid innings against the Oakland Athletics yesterday, allowing just two runs in the Blue Jays’ 5-2 victory.
Walking through the concourse before the game, I could sense the cautious optimism among fans. After spending most of the season on the injured list following offseason back surgery, Scherzer’s return has been circled on calendars across the city.
“This is the kind of performance I expect from myself,” Scherzer told reporters in the clubhouse afterward, his intense gaze never wavering. “I’ve been grinding to get back to this point, and now it’s about building consistency.”
At 39, questions naturally arise about Scherzer’s durability and effectiveness in the twilight of his career. But Toronto’s pitching coach Pete Walker sees promising signs in his mechanics.
“Max has been meticulous in his rehabilitation process,” Walker explained. “His velocity is creeping back up, and more importantly, his command is sharper with each outing.”
The numbers support Walker’s assessment. Scherzer’s fastball touched 95 mph several times yesterday, a marked improvement from his earlier appearances this season. He struck out seven A’s batters while walking only one, throwing 58 of his 87 pitches for strikes.
For the Blue Jays, currently sitting fourth in the AL East with a 46-52 record, Scherzer’s resurgence couldn’t come at a more critical time. The trade deadline looms just weeks away, and decisions about whether to buy, sell, or hold will shape the franchise’s direction.
Toronto acquired Scherzer last season from the Mets in a deadline deal, hoping the veteran would bolster their playoff push. Injuries limited his impact, but the organization remained confident in his ability to bounce back.
“Having Max healthy changes our entire rotation,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He brings an edge, a competitive fire that’s contagious in the clubhouse.”
The Athletics, struggling through another rebuilding season, provided an ideal opponent for Scherzer to find his rhythm. Oakland’s lineup ranks near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.
However, A’s manager Mark Kotsay praised Scherzer’s performance rather than dismissing it as a product of facing weaker competition.
“That’s vintage Max out there,” Kotsay said. “His cutter was especially effective against our right-handed hitters. When he’s locating that pitch, he’s still among the best in the game.”
For Toronto’s front office, led by Ross Atkins, evaluating Scherzer’s trajectory will prove crucial to their deadline strategy. According to Baseball Reference, the Blue Jays hold just a 3.8% chance of reaching the postseason, putting them in potential seller territory.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who supported Scherzer’s effort with a two-run homer in the third inning, believes the team can turn things around.
“Having Max healthy gives us confidence,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “We know every fifth day we have someone who can shut down any lineup in baseball.”
During my conversation with several season ticket holders before the game, the sentiment was mixed about the team’s prospects. Dave Richardson, who hasn’t missed a home game in three years, remains optimistic.
“Scherzer is a gamer,” Richardson told me while waiting in line for a hot dog. “If he can stay healthy and pitch like this, maybe we can make a run.”
Others, like longtime fan Maria Cortez, are more pragmatic about the season’s outlook.
“I love watching Max pitch, but one starter can’t fix all our problems,” she said. “The hitting has been inconsistent all year.”
The coming weeks will determine whether Scherzer’s renaissance is enough to alter the front office’s deadline plans. Statistics from Baseball Savant show his spin rates and movement profiles are approaching his career norms, suggesting his effectiveness could be sustainable.
For a pitcher with 208 career wins and a certain Hall of Fame plaque awaiting him, Scherzer’s focus remains singular.
“I’m not thinking about the deadline or anything beyond my next start,” he said firmly. “My job is to give this team a chance to win every time I take the ball.”
As I watched him walk out of the clubhouse, ice wrapped around his shoulder, I couldn’t help but wonder if yesterday’s performance marks the beginning of Scherzer’s final act as an elite starter or merely another chapter in his remarkable career.
For Blue Jays fans hoping for a second-half surge, they’ll take either scenario – as long as it leads to more wins at Rogers Centre.
