DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Did we really expect Max Scherzer to ease into anything? Why would he start now?
Speaking for the first time since his one-year reunion with the Blue Jays became official, the 41-year-old had no time for long-term plans and slow-playing Spring Training. He came back to play baseball, which is what he plans on doing.
“I’m ready,” Scherzer said.
Scherzer is scheduled to start Saturday for the Blue Jays, and from there, he should get right where he needs to be by Opening Day. Scherzer’s no-nonsense approach doesn’t leave much room for backup plans. Those are all things that can be wrestled with if and when the time comes.
“I feel healthy. I feel good. I just want to pitch,” Scherzer said.
It’s our job to talk about the Blue Jays’ crowded rotation, not Scherzer’s. It’s manager John Schneider’s job to figure it out, not Scherzer’s.
It’s a great problem to have, but the Blue Jays can’t simply rest on that. There are ways to maximize this group of starters, especially when Shane Bieber returns, which is expected to come early in the season. Yes, the flexibility of Eric Lauer and a desire to manage Trey Yesavage’s workload will help this happen more naturally, but it’s going to be a puzzle that looks different day to day, week to week.
“I’m just focusing on myself, making sure I’m healthy and that I can go out and pitch the way I can,” Scherzer said. “If I can go out there and be myself and who I can be -- there’s times we saw it last year -- then I can definitely help the ball club win. That’s why they called. They wanted to see where I was at, I told them I feel good and that I’m ready to go. That’s why we got a deal done.”
The full spectrum of Scherzer was on display the past two days. Monday, he cranked it up for a bullpen session that looks unlike any other starter in camp. Scherzer is so animated, narrating the imaginary at-bats while calling strikes and criticizing his own misses.
Physically, he’s in a great spot. There’s a secret to how Scherzer got past his thumb problems, which nagged him again in 2025, but regardless of how it happened, he is completely confident that those are in the past. He’s already pitching like it, too.
“Pete [Walker, pitching coach] and I were kind of chuckling behind him like, ‘Damn. OK,’” Schneider said. “I wouldn’t put anything past him.”
Everywhere Schneider goes, he’s asked about that moment in Seattle in the ALCS, when Scherzer barked at his manager and stayed in the game. It’s a little more refreshing than all of the people who still want to talk to Schneider about Game 7 of the World Series. He’s probably had enough of those by now.
If any one moment could capture the Mad Max persona, it’s that one. This is why Schneider loves Scherzer. He’s an experience unlike any other.
“Certain guys earn the right to either talk me into something or yell at me on national TV,” Schneider said. “He’s certainly earned the right to yell at me on national TV. I said it after that game, but I was waiting all year for that, I just didn’t have the opportunity to go act like I was taking him out in the regular season. It was as anticipated.”
Ideally, Schneider will be blown up again, and walk back to that dugout trying to hide another grin. That’s what they’re both chasing, the high of a World Series run and the incredible moments that can only happen in October. That moment just wouldn’t work in April or June.
The Blue Jays need Scherzer healthy for October, but this is the American League East. There’s no time for the Blue Jays to ease in, and if you are the person who has to ask Max Scherzer to ease into something, good luck to you.