Max Scherzer may not be done just yet.
With the Toronto Blue Jays set to close out a turbulent 2026 regular season on Sunday, the 42-year-old right-hander is making a push to take the ball in the finale. Toronto has not officially named a starter, but all signs point to Scherzer, who would be working on short rest if he gets the nod.
That possibility matters because Scherzer still hasn’t said what comes next.
The Blue Jays are out of playoff contention, so Sunday won’t carry postseason stakes. Even so, Scherzer made it clear he wants one more outing in front of the Toronto crowd.
"I'm hoping to be able to get back out there on Sunday and finish strong here," Scherzer said, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "I want to pitch in front of Toronto again, so I've got a chance to be able to do that."
For a pitcher with Scherzer’s edge, the desire isn’t shocking. What it does raise is the bigger question hanging over the weekend: is this a last ride, or just one more turn before another chapter somewhere else?
Scherzer is also sitting four strikeouts behind Justin Verlander for eighth on the all-time strikeout list, so there’s history in play, too. Depending on what Verlander does in his final career start Saturday, Scherzer could still be chasing that mark.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider sounded grateful to have had a front-row seat for Scherzer’s run.
“I feel fortunate to be along for the ride for a couple of years in a Hall of Fame career,” manager John Schneider said, per Matheson. “It’s not a surprise that he is who he is, how good he still is at 42 and how good he’s been when you watch him prepare.
How he works, that rubs off on other people. If this is his last one -- and I have a feeling you may see him this season one more time -- after that, it’s his decision.
I’ve been fortunate.”
So while Verlander is set for his final career start Saturday, Scherzer’s situation remains open-ended. The Blue Jays expect to see him at least once more. After that, the next move belongs to him.
In Other News...
Josh Donaldson Just Turned Blue Jays Fans Against Vladdy Again
Josh Donaldson is back in the Blue Jays conversation for the kind of reason that always gets attention in Toronto: he had something pointed to say about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. On the Get It Done League podcast, Donaldson weighed in on Guerreros 2026 season and made it clear he does not view the slugger as a $500 million player, framing the debate around Guerreros recent production and the expectations that come with his name.
For Blue Jays fans, the critique lands in a familiar place because Guerrero is still judged not just on what he does, but on what he is supposed to become. Donaldson pointed to the home run totals and argued Guerrero looks more like a line-drive hitter than a true power bat, which only sharpens the ongoing discussion about his overall value and where he fits among the games highest-paid stars. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Pitching Battle Worth Watching
The Blue Jays found real value in the Rule 5 Draft with Spencer Miles, who quickly grew into an important part of the pitching mix and gave the organization a reminder that help does not always have to come from outside. Now, with 2027 in view, Toronto is staring at a deeper internal competition than it has had in a while, with several arms in the system making a case for major-league roles.
Dylan Cease, Jos Soriano and Trey Yesavage are among the names in that conversation, and the Blue Jays still plan to scout the Rule 5 Draft for another possible bargain. Even so, the bigger picture points toward Toronto leaning more heavily on what it already has in house, while leaving room for a free-agent relief addition or two if the market lines up the right way. [Read more 🡒]
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Now Has To Win Blue Jays Fans Back
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. spent the final homestand doing what he could to smooth over a rough public stretch, apologizing to fans and teammates for comments he made about his contract and the level of support around him. Before the Blue Jays opened that home stand, he said he regretted the remarks and promised to keep working to live up to the kind of deal that comes with a massive spotlight.
Guerrero also pointed to his fathers advice as part of what pushed him to address it directly, a reminder that the episode has become as much about image and trust as it is about baseball. For Toronto, the larger question now is whether the apology is the start of a reset or just the first step in a longer effort to win back a fan base that expects more from its biggest star. [Read more 🡒]