TORONTO -- One month ago, we were wondering how Max Scherzer could even fit onto this roster. Today, where would the Blue Jays be without him?
For the next decade, we’ll point back to the 2026 Blue Jays as the case study for pitching depth. You can never, ever have enough of it, even if you’re close to rostering two full big league rotations.
Already down Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Shane Bieber, the Blue Jays lost Cody Ponce Monday night to a right ACL sprain that could potentially end his season just moments after it began. The Blue Jays’ IL has a better rotation than some teams do, making the handful of healthy starters remaining more important than ever. This isn’t just a warm body, though … it’s Max Scherzer.
Tuesday’s 5-1 win over the Rockies was all Scherzer early, the 41-year-old stubbornly holding the door shut long enough for the Blue Jays to break through. Over six innings of one-run ball, Scherzer was a master of his own game, never quite overwhelming the Rockies but always in complete control of each at-bat. A solo shot was the lone blemish, but the most important number in Scherzer’s box score is the six innings, desperately needed after this bullpen had to cover for Ponce’s injury the night before.
“We’re just playing good ball,” Scherzer said. “It’s five games in and you can’t celebrate it. You realize how much more season is in front of you, but at least we’re getting off the blocks in a good way. One turn through the rotation, everybody has gone out there and done their job. We need more of that.”
He’s aware of the heightened responsibility on himself, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease and Eric Lauer, the healthy four starters. They can’t all try to be heroes, though. That’s a dangerous game.
“We’re getting tested right now,” Scherzer said. “For the rest of us, we’ve got to be very careful. Don’t take any chances. Don’t do anything risky right now. Go out there, do your job, but you can’t put yourself in harm’s way right now given the amount of injuries we have. Go out there, compete and be smart.”
The last time Scherzer stood on this mound, it was in Game 7 of the World Series. He gave the Blue Jays 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball, then walked off the mound in the fifth inning with the Blue Jays still up, 3-1, after Bo Bichette’s home run off Shohei Ohtani. The standing ovation that night lasted long after Scherzer had disappeared into the dugout, a legend of the game who looked like he’d just set the Blue Jays up to win their first World Series since 1993.
Tuesday night, Scherzer sat in that same dugout long before first pitch, rocking slowly as his legs bounced and he stared out at the field. When it came time for first pitch, he looked like a boxer waiting for the bell, bouncing on the dugout steps. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., watching from the other end of the dugout, made sure Scherzer took his first few strides onto the field before anyone else touched the turf.
Sometimes, if you get Scherzer going, he’ll talk for an hour straight, a fascinating explosion of energy and ideas. Other times, like this one, you’re safest keeping a distance of at least 10 feet.
At 41, Scherzer feels and sounds refreshed. He’s confident he’s past the thumb issues that plagued him for years -- even learning to play piano to help with that issue -- and that’s eliminated any “but” in the conversation we have about Scherzer. He didn’t come back to the Blue Jays to slowly ramp up for the postseason. Scherzer is here to pitch, and with millions in bonuses tied to his 2026 innings total, there’s plenty of motivation. Behind Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease, Scherzer could carry the third-heaviest workload this season.
“It just goes to show that I have figured out this thumb and playing the piano is what has solved this,” Scherzer said. “My hand is in a great spot and my arm is in a great spot. This is what I wanted to have happen last year.”
This isn’t how anyone planned it, but Plan A rarely lasts long in baseball. The Blue Jays’ rotation is struggling to keep its head above water, but already, Scherzer looks like a life raft.