Key takeaways: Orioles 4, Blue Jays 2

BALTIMORE -- That’s it, that’s all. The Blue Jays have been eliminated from postseason contention.

You’ve already known that for a few days now, but after Wednesday afternoon’s 4-2 loss to the Orioles in Game 1 of their doubleheader at Camden Yards, the math agrees with it, too.

This is what mattered most:

1. Final American League Wild Card update of 2026

This loss dropped the Blue Jays (77-81) to 4 1/2 games behind the White Sox (81-76) for that third and final spot, and before Game 2 (and the White Sox game tonight), that’s enough to slam the door shut on any microscopic shot at the postseason.

For a team that entered 2026 with World Series expectations, this can only be viewed as a complete and total disappointment. Even in a season with so many challenges -- injuries at the top of that list -- the bar was so low for the Blue Jays to compete for that final AL Wild Card spot. That’s one of the main tragedies of this season, and surely, a Wild Card spot will demand more in 2027 and beyond.

Now, the Wild Card race is all but wrapped up with the Rangers also well back. The Blue Jays and Orioles (77-81), who sit tied after Game 1 of the doubleheader, are now trying to avoid finishing last place in the AL East.

2. Mad Max … Not done yet?

Max Scherzer struck out seven over his five innings of four-run ball on Wednesday, leaving him with 3,550, the ninth most in MLB history. This puts him four strikeouts shy of Justin Verlander (3,554) for eighth all-time.

Verlander is scheduled to pitch on Saturday for the Tigers, his grand finale at Comerica Park before retirement, and he could extend that lead by a few more. That leaves the Blue Jays with an interesting decision to make, as Scherzer would be on short rest to pitch in the final game of the season.

“There’s a chance he comes back on Sunday. That’s what the initial plan was,” manager John Schneider said pregame. “I know it’s a day shorter, but we’ll see how today goes and figure that out in the next couple of days. We kind of wanted to get him one more.”

So, will Scherzer or the Blue Jays be watching that strikeout race on Saturday before making their call about Sunday? Schneider thought for a moment and laughed.

“He may.”

3. Scherzer’s impact on the Blue Jays

Scherzer’s two seasons with the Blue Jays have been defined by injuries, the likely future Hall of Famer constantly fighting back against his thumb, his back, his forearm, his ankle and his age. The numbers don’t tell a kind story, but Scherzer’s impact on the organization stretches well beyond that.

He’s spent nearly as much time in Schneider’s office as he has. One day, it might be an hour-long conversation about a single pitch. The next day, it’s 45 minutes of Scherzer breaking down the positioning of his outfielders. Schneider will never experience another player like this again.

“I love having him. Does it get exhausting sometimes? Yeah,” Schneider said, laughing. “I think there’s a certain edge that he brings, too. Not just on games that he starts, but having that presence through the day to day of a baseball season is really cool. He’s helped me exponentially. He’s taught me things. He’s not afraid to come in and check my work.”

If this is the end of the line for Scherzer, it’s been one of the greatest pitching careers we’ve ever seen. The Blue Jays didn’t see his best days on the mound, but they’re still a better organization for having him wear their uniform.