That sure looked like the final game of Max Scherzer’s decorated career.
In the last day of the MLB regular season, the Toronto Blue Jays veteran went all out in a seven-inning, 114-pitch start, getting the win in a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Scherzer’s final line: 7 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.
The start could have ended after 6 2/3 inning, but Scherzer declined to come out during a mound visit from John Schneider, which may or may not have been a serious attempt to remove him from the game.
It gave Scherzer one last chance to show off his trademark snarl.
At 42 years old, Scherzer has not confirmed or denied he intends to retire after this season, unlike his friend and former teammate Justin Verlander. He said Saturday he intends to make a decision during the offseason:
“I’m going to make this decision about playing next year later in the offseason,” Scherzer said. “I’ve gone through ups and downs throughout the season, I get it, but I’ve gotten to the point where I’m pretty healthy. I’ve talked to everybody in my inner circle and we all kind of feel the same way. We don’t need to make a decision today. Get to the offseason and see how things unfold.”
That’s the story at least. Meanwhile, Scherzer celebrated leaving the game in the eighth inning by embracing his family in the stands.
If Scherzer does retire this offseason, he can start planning for a trip to Cooperstown in five years. The right-hander is an obvious Hall of Famer, with one of the best pitching résumés of the century.
That includes three Cy Young Awards (one of 11 pitchers in MLB history to reach that mark), eight All-Star berths, two no-hitters, a 20-strikeout game, three immaculate innings and two World Series championships with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023.
Scherzer might be a way off from his prime, but he carried legend status going into his time with the Blue Jays, with whom he nearly added one more ring last season. He rejoined Toronto last offseason on a one-year, $3 million deal and it remains to be seen if any more moves are coming.
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