The Aporia · Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer delays retirement decision until the off-season

Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer delays retirement decision until the off-season

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Chidley-Hill, J. (2026, September 26). Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer delays retirement decision until the off-season. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/blue-jays/blue-jays-pitcher-max-scherzer-delays-retirement-decision-until-the-off-season/article_b698d40c-8ee6-56b3-93f5-1419586531ba.html

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Quick Summary

Max Scherzer, the 42-year-old Toronto Blue Jays pitcher and likely Hall of Famer, will start on short rest in the team's final game against the Cincinnati Reds before deciding whether to retire or continue playing after the season. Scherzer, who has won three Cy Young Awards and ranks ninth in all-time strikeouts with 3,550, mentioned he feels healthy but is considering factors like potential labor disruptions next year before making a final decision during the off-season.

Written by AI on 2026-09-26, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Max Scherzer capped his two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays by pitching a memorable final game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, November 6. Despite the Blue Jays finishing last in the American League East with a record of 79-83, Scherzer's performance was vintage as he struck out seven over seven innings and threw a season-high 114 pitches.

Scherzer operated on three days' rest, showcasing his stamina and skill by making it seem like "he felt unlimited" feeding off the energy from Rogers Centre. The game saw standing ovations for both Scherzer and George Springer, who led off for the Blue Jays in their season finale.

The win was bittersweet for Toronto fans, who had high hopes after reaching the seventh game of the World Series the previous year but were left disappointed by a sub-par 2026 campaign marked by superstar losses (including Bo Bichette) and pitcher injuries. Despite this, Scherzer's final start gave them one last memorable moment to cherish before he decides his future in baseball, which could involve taking more time off or considering another season. His career strikeout total of 3,557 places him ninth on the all-time MLB list. The Blue Jays' manager and opponents alike praised Scherzer's performance, with Reds manager Terry Francona saying it was hard not to "tip your cap" due to his impact on baseball. (Sources: Articles by Gregory Strong, Ian Harrison, Gregor Chisholm)

Written for “Max Scherzer Delaying Retirement Deci…” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

2 of 34 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

64/100

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Who wrote this

John Chidley-Hill

16 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Report shows 75% of Canadians are fans of women's sport – but finding games a challenge Canadian Women and Sport study shows number of fans is up from 2 years ago When Zoe Boyd was a little girl growing up in Caledon, Ont., Hockey Night in Canada was appointment viewing for her family every Saturday night. This season, the star of the new Professional Women's Hockey League team in Hamilton will be regularly featured on the CBC showcase.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Report shows 75% of Canadians are fans of women's sport – but finding games a challenge

🔮 Toronto had the fifth-best defence in the NBA last season, but the addition of Leonard — a two-time Defensive Player of the Year — could have the Raptors competing to be the league’s stingiest team this season.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Toronto Raptors embrace defensive competition as Walter chases NBA steals crown

🔮 Those raised expectations — not that Rajakovic would use the word — come from the off-season addition of Kawhi Leonard and a solid first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers last April in which all-star Scottie Barnes seemed to find a new gear.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Raptors try to ignore expectations ahead of promising 2026-27 season

🔮 “I will remember this night for sure, but it’s so, so bad, that we lost the game,” said Marchenko about having the fifth hat trick of his career.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Moving Kirill Marchenko to line with John Tavares works for Maple Leafs

🔮 He bumped William Nylander up to the top line with Matthews and put Marchenko on Tavares’s wing.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Power scores in overtime as Sabres rally past Leafs 5-4; Tavares leaves game early

🔮 Toronto will host the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21 in their home opener.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Kawhi Leonard gets warm welcome in Raptors' re-debut in pre-season game vs. Knicks

🔮 Toronto will host the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 21 in their home opener.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · 'Very special day': Kawhi Leonard receives warm welcome during Raptors' re-debut in pre-season

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2026-09-29 · assertive framing · RJ Barrett willing to wait and see on contract extension with Toronto Raptors

🔮 Instead of taking the rest of his rookie season off, the 23-year-old told anyone he could that he wanted to make as many starts as possible before the season’s end.

2026-09-27 · assertive framing · Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage relieved to be healthy heading into off-season

🔮 The loss guaranteed that the Blue Jays will finish the season last in the American League East.

2026-09-26 · assertive framing · Hector Rodriguez's two-run triple powers Reds past Blue Jays 5-1

Also by John Chidley-Hill

Report shows 75% of Canadians are fans of women's sport – but finding games a challenge

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Toronto Raptors embrace defensive competition as Walter chases NBA steals crown

2026-10-22 · Toronto Star

Raptors try to ignore expectations ahead of promising 2026-27 season

2026-10-20 · Toronto Star

Moving Kirill Marchenko to line with John Tavares works for Maple Leafs

2026-10-16 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 16 articles by John Chidley-Hill →

Topics

MLB Major League Baseball TORONTO the Cincinnati Reds the Toronto Blue Jays

Subjects

Scherzer PERSON · 14× TORONTO GPE · 4× Verlander PERSON · 4× MLB ORG · 2× Hall of Fame ORG · 1× Major League Baseball ORG · 1× Max Scherzer PERSON · 1× the Blue Jays’ ORG · 1× the Cincinnati Reds ORG · 1× the Toronto Blue Jays ORG · 1×

Narrative

“We’ve also got a lot of uncertainty next year with all the labour issues, so you just don’t know how the season’s going to happen or unfold, or what opportunity is going to be in front of me,” said Scherzer, who was a member of the MLBPA’s executive subcommittee in the early 2020s.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-26

🔮 Scherzer will start on short rest for the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds in a scheduling decision that appeared to give the surefire Hall of Famer a proper sendoff in Toronto’s final game of the season.

2026-09-26 · Toronto Star

Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer delays retirement decision until the off-season · assertive framing

Claims (34 extracted, 2 hedged)

TORONTO - Max Scherzer wasn’t ready to call it quits just yet. asserted

Scherzer → call → it

Scherzer will start on short rest for the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds in a scheduling decision that appeared to give the surefire Hall of Famer a proper sendoff in Toronto’s final game of the season. asserted

that → start → season

But the 42-year-old told media Saturday that he will wait until the off-season to decide if he’ll retire or play another season of Major League Baseball. asserted

he → tell → Baseball

“I’ve gone through ups and downs through the season. asserted

I → go → season

I get it, but I’ve gotten to this point where I’m pretty healthy,” said Scherzer, sitting in the Blue Jays’ dugout at Rogers Centre. asserted

Scherzer → get → Centre

“I’ve talked to everybody in my inner circle, and we all kind of feel the same way. asserted

we → talk → circle

“We don’t need to make a decision today. asserted

We → need → decision

Get to the off-season and just see how things unfold.” asserted

things → get → season

Scherzer noted that he’s never had a serious injury over his Hall of Fame-calibre career, just nagging hurts and pains as he’s gotten older. asserted

he → note → career

He was on Toronto’s 15-day injured list from April 27 to June 10 with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. asserted

He → injure → tendinitis

After one start, he went back on the 15-day IL on June 14 with back spasms. asserted

he → go → spasms

Now that Scherzer’s healthy again and says he’s in mid-season form, he feels like he could pitch another season. uncertain

he → ’ → season

But there are other potential issues, including the likely labour disruption of either a lockout or strike when the collective agreement between MLB and the players’ union expires this winter. asserted

agreement → be → MLB

who → get → 2020s

I’ve been thinking about it this way for the past say six weeks here, and nothing’s really changed. asserted

nothing → think → weeks

“We keep kind of circling back to the same thing and I feel good about it. asserted

I → circle → it

So, for me, I just want to go out there and pitch tomorrow, knowing that hey, you never know; it could be my last, just in case.” uncertain

it → want → case

Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles over his 19-year career. asserted

Scherzer → win → career

He has amassed a 224-126 record with a 3.29 earned-run average over 500 games. asserted

He → amass → games

His 3,550 strikeouts rank ninth on the all-time MLB list, four behind Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. asserted

strikeouts → rank → Tigers

Verlander made the final start of his career Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. asserted

Verlander → make → Pirates

Scherzer and Verlander have twice been teammates and remain close friends. “I’ve texted him like a little bit over the past day. asserted

I → remain → day

I know he’s definitely at his end, and I’m really looking forward to seeing him go out there and pitch, and for everything he’s done in the game and accomplished,” said Scherzer. asserted

Scherzer → know → game

“It’s going to be a big moment for him, and I’ve really enjoyed watching him be able to get back out there one more time.” asserted

him → go → him

Scherzer insisted he wasn’t considering sticking around for another season to surpass Verlander’s strikeout total. asserted

he → insist → total

“It’s funny how that’s unfolding,” said Scherzer, who was teammates with Verlander on the Tigers and later the New York Mets. asserted

who → ’ → Tigers

“Here we are, all these years later, and we’re you know neck and neck in that regard. asserted

you → ’re → regard

“I hope he goes out there and strikes out the world today.” asserted

he → hope → world

His fiery and sometimes quirky personality earned Scherzer the nickname “Mad Max,” but Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Scherzer was a joy to manage in Scherzer’s two years in Toronto. asserted

Scherzer → earn → Toronto

“It’s been really cool, really exhausting at times, really funny at times,” said Schneider with a smile. asserted

Schneider → say → smile

“I think overall, just getting to see inside of his process and his brain has been really eye-opening on how he views the game, how he prepares, how he navigates the day-to-day with his teammates and the staff. asserted

he → think → teammates

“It’s pretty unique, and I’m pretty fortunate to be part of it.” asserted

I → ’ → it

Brandon Williamson (5-4) will get the start for the Reds against Scherzer (3-9) in the Sunday matinee at Rogers Centre. asserted

Williamson → get → Centre

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2026. asserted

report → publish → Press