Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-28 · by Ian Harrison The Associated Press
analysis
Max Scherzer, at age 42, struck out seven batters and pitched seven-plus innings on short rest to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Cincinnati Reds with a final score of 5-1. The game was Scherzer’s season-ending start, earning him his 225th career victory and bringing his total strikeouts to 3,557, placing him ninth all-time in MLB history. Fans at Rogers Centre gave Scherzer a standing ovation before the game and cheered when he stayed in despite manager John Schneider's controversial decision to bring in relief pitching early in the eighth inning.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Max Scherzer capped his two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays by pitching a memorable final game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, November 6. Despite the Blue Jays finishing last in the American League East with a record of 79-83, Scherzer's performance was vintage as he struck out seven over seven innings and threw a season-high 114 pitches.
Scherzer operated on three days' rest, showcasing his stamina and skill by making it seem like "he felt unlimited" feeding off the energy from Rogers Centre. The game saw standing ovations for both Scherzer and George Springer, who led off for the Blue Jays in their season finale.
The win was bittersweet for Toronto fans, who had high hopes after reaching the seventh game of the World Series the previous year but were left disappointed by a sub-par 2026 campaign marked by superstar losses (including Bo Bichette) and pitcher injuries. Despite this, Scherzer's final start gave them one last memorable moment to cherish before he decides his future in baseball, which could involve taking more time off or considering another season. His career strikeout total of 3,557 places him ninth on the all-time MLB list. The Blue Jays' manager and opponents alike praised Scherzer's performance, with Reds manager Terry Francona saying it was hard not to "tip your cap" due to his impact on baseball. (Sources: Articles by Gregory Strong, Ian Harrison, Gregor Chisholm)
Written for “Max Scherzer Delaying Retirement Deci…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
TORONTO (AP) — Max Scherzer said he felt “unlimited” in Sunday’s season-ending start against the Cincinnati Reds.
asserted
he → say → Reds
Pitching on three days of rest, the 42-year-old Scherzer struck out seven over seven-plus innings to earn the 225th victory of his career as the Blue Jays won 5-1.
asserted
Jays → pitch → career
“That was amazing,” Scherzer said.
asserted
Scherzer → say → ?
“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.
uncertain
I → kick → Centre
I really could just reach back and just felt like I was unlimited.”
uncertain
I → reach → ?
Scherzer threw a season-high 114 pitches, 77 for strikes.
asserted
Scherzer → throw → strikes
He walked one and allowed one run and six hits, including five singles.
asserted
He → walk → singles
“If that doesn’t sum up Max Scherzer, I don’t know what does,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
asserted
Schneider → sum → Scherzer
“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.
asserted
Francona → wish → that
A two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer (4-9) boosted his career strikeout total to 3,557.
asserted
Scherzer → boost → 3,557
That’s the ninth-highest mark in big league history — three behind former teammate Justin Verlander, who made the final start of his decorated career Saturday.
asserted
who → ’ → career
The sellout crowd of 42,131 rose for a standing ovation when Scherzer took the mound alone before the game, with his teammates briefly hanging back in the dugout.
asserted
teammates → rise → dugout
Scherzer stepped off and saluted the fans with a wave.
asserted
Scherzer → step → wave
Schneider was booed when he came to the mound with two outs in the seventh, but fans cheered when Scherzer stayed in to retire Will Banfield on a popup.
asserted
Scherzer → boo → popup
“The whole place is booing him,” Scherzer said of Schneider.
asserted
Scherzer → boo → Schneider
“I’m like, ‘Man, I want to stay in this game, too.’”
asserted
I → ’m → game
Schneider came out again after Scherzer walked Oswaldo Cabrera to begin the eighth.
asserted
Scherzer → come → eighth
“It was the weakest call to the bullpen ever for me,” Schneider said.
asserted
Schneider → say → me
“I kind of used my pinky.”
asserted
I → use → pinky
A smiling Scherzer handed over the ball and walked off to another big cheer.
asserted
Scherzer → smile → cheer
After exchanging hugs with his teammates, Scherzer climbed into the stands next to the dugout to embrace his wife and children.
asserted
Scherzer → exchange → wife
“Just a cool moment to be able to see them,” Scherzer said.
asserted
Scherzer → see → them
“I wanted to have them here.”
asserted
I → want → them
Scherzer said he skipped his bullpen session and upper-body weightlifting after throwing 93 pitches in five innings at Baltimore last Wednesday.
asserted
he → say → Baltimore
“I gave myself maximum chance to be able to be the best today I can possibly be,” he said.
uncertain
he → give → chance
Scherzer finished one out shy of reaching 85 innings pitched, which would have earned him a $1 million bonus.
asserted
which → finish → bonus
He’d previously earned $1 million bonuses for reaching 65 innings and 75 innings.
asserted
He → earn → innings
Before Saturday’s game, Scherzer said he would wait until the offseason to decide whether he wants to play a 20th major league season in 2027.
asserted
he → say → 2027
“When you get away from baseball, you get a little bit more clarity of your decision-making,” Scherzer said Sunday.
asserted
Scherzer → get → making
Whatever happens, the intense Scherzer has made a big impression over his two seasons in Toronto.
“I told Max on the mound when he was coming out, ‘Thank you for letting me be part of your unbelievable career,’” Schneider said, “and I wouldn’t want any other 42-year-old psychopath on my team other than you.’”
asserted
I → happen → you
The Aporia
