Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during fifth inning MLB baseball action, in Toronto on Monday, June 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Thomas Skrlj
TSKTORONTO - Pitcher Max Scherzer鈥檚 second start at Rogers Centre this season was far more successful than this first.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched five strong innings on Monday night as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 5-4. Scherzer struck out seven while allowing three hits and two runs on 71 pitches.
He also did not walk a batter, and his fastball topped out at over 95 miles-per-hour.
鈥淚 thought I was on the ball better today,鈥 said Scherzer post-game. 鈥淚 kind of made a little adjustment in-between starts and I felt like it got me in and really started dialing in pitches.鈥
Scherzer was forced to leave his first start with the Blue Jays on March 29 after just 41 pitches due to a thumb issue, spending the next three months on the Injured List. Monday was just his third start of the season.
鈥淚 felt like I had a good fastball tonight,鈥 he said, crediting the pitch for his success against a vaunted Yankees lineup.
鈥淚 was able to pitch with that and set up every other pitch and it allowed me to kind of navigate their lineup a little bit when I was in there. So, there鈥檚 a lot of good.鈥
This version of Scherzer appears to be the version the Blue Jays were expecting when they signed him to a one-year contract worth $15.5 million.
鈥淚t was evident with the way he started the game, that, yeah, that鈥檚 the best version of Max that we鈥檝e seen鈥 said Blue Jays manager John Schneider following the game.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 who he is,鈥 said Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the type of person who comes here early every day, always focuses on the game, and gives you everything he鈥檚 got.鈥
Scherzer鈥檚 return has come at an opportune time for the Blue Jays.
With the club in the thick of a divisional race, Monday鈥檚 victory leaves the Blue Jays just two games back of the Yankees for the American League East lead.
The Blue Jays have gone 30-18 since May 8, earning the third-best winning percentage in the majors during that span while also ranking top-10 in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 been doing their job,鈥 said Guerrero Jr. 鈥淛ust helping each other. And we trust in each other a lot. So, we鈥檝e been playing great as a team.鈥
It was a total team effort for the Blue Jays on Monday.
Guerrero Jr. drove home three runs with a single and double, while second baseman Davis Schneider finished 2-for-3 with a double and shortstop Ernie Clement went 2-for-5 with one RBI.
With the lead down to one in the bottom of the ninth, closer Jeff Hoffman entered the game and pitched a scoreless frame to secure the victory and earn his 19th save of the year, ranking him third among American League pitchers.
鈥淚t felt like a very meaningful baseball game,鈥 said Schneider. 鈥淚t is June. It鈥檒l be July tomorrow (Tuesday), and tomorrow鈥檚 a big day for us as a team and as a country. I鈥檓 sure it鈥檒l be fun again tomorrow.鈥
UP NEXT
Right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-6) starts for the Jays on Canada Day, while the visiting Yankees will hand the ball to left-hander Max Fried (10-2).
This report by 好色tvwas first published June 30, 2025.
The 好色tv Press. All rights reserved.
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