Max Scherzer turned back the clock for the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the ALCS Thursday night, helping his team to an 8-2 win that evened the series at two games apiece.
The 41-year-old was full of adrenaline throughout his 5.2 innings Thursday night, allowing just two earned runs to go along with four strikeouts and three hits. Scherzer did walk four, but did a good job limiting the damage with the only big blow coming via a solo home run from Canadian Josh Naylor in the second inning.
With two outs and a runner on and the top of the order set to bat in the fifth inning, manager John Schneider jogged out to the mound, appearing to contemplate a pitching change with right-hander Louis Varland ready in the bullpen.
But Scherzer barked at Schneider as he made his way out to the mound and appeared to say “let’s go” while speaking with his manager, seemingly making a play to stay in the game.
Schneider obliged and Scherzer rewarded him by striking out Randy Arozarena to end the threat, keeping the Jays up 5-1 through five innings. Scherzer departed after a two-out walk in the sixth inning that eventually came around to score on an RBI single by Eugenio Suarez off lefty Mason Fluharty.
The outing was Scherzer’s longest in the postseason since 2021 and came on his first start in 22 days. Scherzer was up and down during the regular season, pitching to a 5.19 ERA over 17 starts, struggling with thumb, back and neck injuries.
However, pitching coach Pete Walker told reporters in the lead-up to Scherzer’s start Thursday that the future Hall-of-Famer felt as healthy as he has all season.
Andres Gimenez drove in four runs and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his fifth home run of the postseason to help the Jays to their Game 4 victory.
Game 5 will go Friday night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle with Game 6 set for Sunday night back in Toronto.
