In the sixth inning with two runners on base and just one out, Toronto Blue Jays manager, John Schneider, made his way to the mound as pitcher Max Scherzer reached 77 pitches. Instead of strolling, Schneider jogged, signaling a chance for Scherzer to make his case. The seasoned right-hander, at 42, calmly convinced Schneider he could handle the situation, and that’s precisely what he did.
There were no heated exchanges like in past games; Scherzer simply assured he could get out of the jam, which he successfully did. As he left the field to a cheering crowd of 41,321 at the Rogers Centre, Scherzer had allowed only one run in six solid innings, despite the Blue Jays ultimately falling 5-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Reflecting on the game, Scherzer shared, “I just needed to show where I was at. I wanted to see what we could do against (Ivan) Herrera, and when I got him out, I felt confident I could finish the inning.”
The tough loss on Sunday, with four runs given up in the ninth, came just before the trade deadline, leaving the Blue Jays at 52-60 as they jetted off to face the Houston Astros. In anticipation of potential roster changes, the team acquired Jameson Taillon from the Chicago Cubs, with his role on the team still to be determined as he joins them in Houston.
Despite the murky situation as the deadline approaches, Scherzer expressed understanding, stating, “We’re in this position because as players, we have not performed to our capabilities.” He acknowledged that decisions might be made by the front office due to the team’s performance, but remained optimistic about their chances in the wild card race.