Max Scherzer leaves playing future open ahead of Blue Jays finale

Max Scherzer is leaving the question of another major league season for the offseason. The Blue Jays right-hander said Saturday he has not decided whether to return in 2027 for what would be his 20th season. For now, his attention turns to Toronto’s season finale against Cincinnati on Sunday. Scherzer is expected to pitch on short rest, giving his family a final opportunity to watch him take the mound this year.

Difficult season, enduring milestones

Scherzer, 42, enters that assignment with a 3-9 record and a 6.14 ERA across 17 starts. That ERA is the highest of his career, following a 2025 season in which he finished 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 outings for Toronto. His latest start came Wednesday in the opener of a doubleheader at Baltimore. He allowed four runs over five innings and recorded seven strikeouts, bringing his career total to 3,550. Despite the struggles, Scherzer added another milestone last month. A 10-strikeout performance against Seattle pushed him past Gaylord Perry into ninth on the career strikeout list. It marked his 115th career game with at least 10 strikeouts.

A future decision after another Toronto chapter

Scherzer’s résumé includes a 224-126 record, three Cy Young Awards and World Series championships with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. He surrendered one run in 4 1/3 innings before the Blue Jays ultimately fell 5-4 in 11 innings. Scherzer returned to Toronto in February on a one-year, $3 million contract and has since earned $2 million in performance bonuses. Whether that Toronto chapter continues will remain unresolved until the season is over.