SEATTLE – The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to see pitcher Max Scherzer at his best, demonstrating his well-known energy and determination, when he starts Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
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 postseason start and his 31st appearance. Both Scherzer and right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt 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 love it. This is what you play for. You want to have the ball in this situation. You want to be pitching in the postseason.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer is 0-3 in his last eight postseason starts since the 2019 World Series. He was 1/3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts of the 2025 season. Scherzer admitted that 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, went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this year, his 18th season in the Major Leagues.I hope Max is Max, in the sense that he goes out and performs at a very, very high level.
Chris Bassitt
The 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.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 Scherzer
Yes, we lost two games. Yes, obviously these are games that have to be won. We all understand what’s at stake.We are a great team. I’ve seen it time and time again throughout this year, the number of times we responded in so many different ways. We had many comeback wins. We’ve played great baseball.
Max Scherzer
