Scherzer ready for Game 4: Blue Jays rely on his experience

SEATTLE – The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to see Max Scherzer at his best, demonstrating his characteristic energy and determination, when he takes the mound for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners this Thursday night.

I love it. This is what we play for. You want to have the ball in this situation. You want to be pitching in the postseason.

Max Scherzer

Scherzer, 41, hasn’t pitched in a game since his last regular season start on September 24 against Boston. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is preparing for his 26th start and his 31st postseason appearance. Both Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, also a right-handed pitcher, were added to the Blue Jays’ roster for the American League Championship Series after missing the Division Series against the Yankees. Bassitt pitched 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run in a relief appearance during Monday night’s 10-3 loss to the Mariners.

I hope Max is Max, in the sense that he goes out and performs at a very, very high level.

Chris Bassitt

Scherzer is 0-3 in his last eight postseason starts since the 2019 World Series. He went 1/3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts of the 2025 season. Scherzer admitted his pitching wasn’t up to his standards towards the end of the season and that he took some time to recover his body. Manager John Schneider said on Sunday that neck pain limited Scherzer at the end of the season. The eight-time All-Star also didn’t pitch between March 29 and June 25 due to inflammation in his right thumb. Scherzer, who finished a one-year, $15.5 million contract with Toronto in February, had a 5-5 record with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this year, his 18th in the Major Leagues.

I don’t want to sit here and look back and blame the injuries for the way I pitched. When I go up on the mound, I go up on the mound and I have the attitude that I’m going to win no matter what.

Max ScherzerThe Blue Jays lost the first two games of the American League Championship Series at home, but responded with a win in Game 3 in Seattle on Wednesday night.

We are a great team. I’ve seen it time and time again throughout this year, the number of times we responded in many different ways. We had many comeback wins. We’ve played great baseball.

Max Scherzer

Scherzer continued saying: Yes, we lost two games. Yes, obviously these are games that have to be won. We all understand what’s at stake.