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| Max Scherzer fired 7 strong innings in a 5-1 victory over the Reds to end the 2026 season |
After a loss due to a general lacklustre effort from a team playing out the string, the Blue Jays were looking to finish off 2026 with a win and notch their 25th series win and 12th season series win of the season. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Brett Bateman was in RF. Vlad was scratched from the last game of the year. Could the Blue Jays end the year with a win and notch their 25th series win and 12th season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Brandon Valenzuela hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Davis Schneider
- The Reds got one back in the top of the 3rd as Carlos Jorge singled scoring Oswaldo Cabrera
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd on a sac fly by Charles McAdoo tbat scored Sean Keys
- A batter later, Brett Bateman scored on a ground out by Davis Schneider
- Brandon Williamson pitching line: 3IP 4H 4R (all earned) 3BB 3K 76 pitches (41 for strikes)
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 7IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 7K 114 pitches (77 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as McAdoo hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Reds 1
My Take:-
- What a final start to the 2026 season (and possibly career) of pitching legend Max Scherzer. The definite hall of famer, pitching on three days rest, fired 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7 (finishing three shy of former teammate and buddy Justin Verlander on the all-time career strikeout list). He ran into a bit of trouble in the 3rd when he gave up a run on 3 hits, but recovered nicely and retired 7 in a row. What a reaction from his catcher Brandon Valenzuela when he struck out Juan Brito swinging to end the 6th inning. Scherzer really led the rookie catcher through this game and probably taught him a thing or two about pitch selection today. Scherzer was 4-9 with a 5.74ERA in 18 starts this season.
- The bullpen threw 2 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit, walking none and striking out none. Mason Fluharty did a great job coming in for Max Scherzer and keeping that last base runner he allowed at 1st base. Even better job by Paul Sewald to keep Louis Varland, who also pitched a ton, right where he was in the bullpen. Now all the relievers get a long and much-needed respite after a difficult year where they had to cover a ton of innings with the rotation in flux due to injury.
- While it would have been nice for the fans to see another Springer Dinger, it was not meant to be. Although, he did muscle a base hit to the outfield to allow him to enjoy a proper sendoff. The only thing that would have been better would have been to have his best buddy Vladdy sub in as a pinch runner instead of Sean Keys. Springer finished the year batting .248 with 15HR and 54RBI over 125 games and 460AB. Over his 6-year career as a Blue Jay, he hit .260 with 134HR and 392RBI. The future stars of the Blue Jays did the damage today. Charles McAdoo drove in 2, including himself on a solo HR, backup catcher Valenzuela hit a 2-run HR and Brett Bateman (very likely the leadoff hitter next season) added 2 more hits, both off lefty Brandon Williamson. Bateman has been excellent batting at the top of the order and shown great ability to hit left-handed pitchers. The big question marks are Davis Schneider, who's fifteen minutes of fame appear over, and Ernie Clement, who was awful in the 2nd half especially.
- The Blue Jays were 1-1 on ABS challenges and the Reds were 4-1 on ABS challenges.
- The Blue Jays were 1-3 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the off-season in what is expected to include a lockout when the CBA expires December 1 as the owners push to become the last of the big 4 to have a hard salary cap. There are lots of decisions to be made to improve on next year's roster and who will be on the coaching staff to guide the Blue Jays next season. To be sure, the year-end pressers by John Schneider, Ross Atkins and the plsyers could be very telling. Thank you all for reading all my game recaps and randome thoughts posts and I'll catch you all whenever baseball returns after the lockout (hopefully sometime in 2027).
