Max Scherzer’s return to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday was a milestone-filled night that ended in disappointment, as the veteran right-hander struggled in a 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first appearance in 47 days, Scherzer allowed five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, with the outing pushing his season ERA above 10. Despite the rough results, the game began with a major career achievement when Scherzer struck out Phillies leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber on his fifth pitch of the night for his 3,500th career strikeout, making him just the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach the mark. The crowd at Rogers Centre reacted with a standing ovation, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. helped spark the celebration after Scherzer’s milestone.
Toronto has dealt with Scherzer’s uneven season while also navigating injuries and rotation uncertainty. The 41-year-old has been limited by issues with his thumb, ankle and forearm, and his 2026 campaign has been inconsistent overall. Scherzer said he felt healthy in his return and believed his stuff was sharper, noting that his fastball velocity averaged 93.6 mph, slightly above his season norm. He also generated 13 swinging strikes. But he was hurt by traffic on the bases and one costly mistake: a hanging slider to Alec Bohm that was hit for a three-run home run in the third inning. Scherzer walked three batters, surrendered five hits and allowed two homers while recording only 10 outs.
Manager John Schneider said the Blue Jays are not rushing to make decisions based on one outing after Scherzer spent more than a month away from game action. Toronto intends to give him time to settle back into a routine before judging his role. Schneider emphasized that Scherzer has earned patience because of his track record and because the team brought him back with the expectation that he could still help lead a playoff push.
Even so, the Jays’ rotation picture is about to get crowded. Shane Bieber is scheduled to start in Triple A on Thursday and could be back in the majors soon, which would give Toronto six starters for five rotation spots. The club may need to make a difficult choice, potentially using a six-man rotation temporarily or moving another pitcher, such as Patrick Corbin, out of the mix. Scherzer, a future Hall of Famer, could also find himself under pressure if the Jays decide Bieber is ready and healthy.
Scherzer acknowledged that he was in a bad place before landing on the injured list in late April, suggesting health issues may have contributed to his early struggles. Still, he said he is not pitching for personal milestones, but to help Toronto win. The veteran has been counted out before and has responded with strong stretches, including a late-season rebound last year that helped him earn a postseason roster spot. For Toronto, the question now is whether this latest return marks the beginning of another turnaround or another chapter in an injury-plagued season.
