Max Scherzer Shines In Season Finale As Blue Jays Beat Reds

A Brilliant Season Finale

Max Scherzer put on a brilliant performance in Toronto's final game of the season. The 42 year old pitcher guided the Blue Jays to a 5-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds at the Rogers Centre. Pitching on just three days of rest, Scherzer earned his 225th career win.

Scherzer threw 114 pitches, which was his highest total of the season. He threw 77 of those for strikes, allowing only one run and six hits. He walked just one batter and struck out seven before leaving the mound in the eighth inning.

Scherzer said he felt unlimited during the game. He explained that the adrenaline kicked in and he was able to feed off the energy of the crowd.

High Praise From Managers

Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised his veteran pitcher after the game. Schneider said that the performance summed up who Scherzer is. Even Cincinnati manager Terry Francona showed his respect, saying it was hard not to applaud a player who has been so good for baseball.

Scherzer is a two time World Series champion and a three time Cy Young Award winner. His seven strikeouts on Sunday moved his career total to 3,557. This is the ninth highest mark in major league history, putting him just three strikeouts behind Justin Verlander.

Standing Ovation And Bonus Miss

The sellout crowd of 42,131 gave Scherzer a standing ovation when he walked out to the mound. When manager John Schneider tried to replace him in the seventh inning, the fans booed. Scherzer stayed in to get the final out of the inning, but was replaced in the eighth after a walk.

Scherzer walked off to loud cheers and embraced his family in the stands. However, he finished just one out short of reaching 85 innings pitched for the season. Reaching that mark would have earned him a 1 million dollar bonus. He had already earned 1 million dollar bonuses for reaching 65 and 75 innings.

The pitcher said he will make a decision about his future in the offseason. He wants to take some time away from the game before deciding if he will play a 20th season in 2027.