The future Hall of Famer finished off the fifth inning with a strikeout of Arozarena and returned for the sixth, getting two more outs. His final line of 5 2/3 innings and two earned runs was his best start of this season since Aug. 25, and it was his longest postseason outing since 2021.

Scherzer is the Blue Jays' projected starter in Game 3 of the World Series. He has not had the best season, but he delivered a solid outing in his last postseason start. Scherzer is 41 years old and has already expressed his desire to keep pitching. However, the Blue Jays may not bring him back.

One of Vitello's most successful recruits while he was an assistant coach at Missouri was Toronto pitcher Max Scherzer. He and the Blue Jays are preparing to play the defending World Series champion Dodgers in the 2025 World Series, which opens Friday in Toronto. Following the World Series, Scherzer will be a free agent.