logo
Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer hopes performance against the A's is just the beginning

Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer hopes performance against the A's is just the beginning

CTV News2 days ago
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 11, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Max Scherzer, for one night at least, offered a throwback performance.
He stifled Athletics hitters for five innings on Friday night before finally running into some trouble in the sixth, but even then he limited the damage before exiting in a 7-6 Toronto victory.
Scherzer (1-0) finished with eight strikeouts while allowing five hits.
'He was dominating areas up and down and out,' Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. 'He is who he is for a reason.'
Scherzer claimed his first victory since July 25 last year when he pitched for Texas and the Rangers defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-1.
Injuries didn't help. The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened last season on the injured list after undergoing back surgery. Then shortly after recording that victory against the White Sox, he spent more than a month on the IL because of shoulder fatigue.
Scherzer signed a $15.5 million, one-year contract with the Blue Jays in the offseason, but again experienced health issues. He went on this 60-day IL because of an injured thumb.
'My body's good,' Scherzer said. 'As long as my thumb is healthy, I can be myself. I can pitch like this. It's all about my thumb.'
This was his fourth start since rejoining the rotation, and Scherzer made the most of it. He struck out five consecutive batters at one point and shut out the A's over five innings, allowing just singles to Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom. The A's began to get to Scherzer in the sixth, with Kurtz hitting a two-run home run and Soderstrom getting a solo shot.
Those homers cut the Blue Jays' lead to 7-3, but Scherzer induced a flyout to Miguel Andujar to end the threat.
'It's my first time at 90 pitches, lengthening my arm out for the first time to the sixth inning this year,' Scherzer said. 'Get acclimated to that pitch count and hopefully get rolling. I'm happy about this, especially when we win. When I get my chance after the (All-Star) break, keep this going.'
Schneider said he thought the break came at a good time for the 40-year-old Scherzer.
'Hopefully, he can build off of this and get him out there pretty regularly,' Schneider said. 'I think reshuffling the rotation if we can to give him a little more rest would be great. I'll take him on the mound any day of the week.'
__
Mark Anderson, The Associated Press
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Blue Jays draft U.S. high school shortstop JoJo Parker 8th overall
Blue Jays draft U.S. high school shortstop JoJo Parker 8th overall

CBC

timean hour ago

  • CBC

Blue Jays draft U.S. high school shortstop JoJo Parker 8th overall

The Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop JoJo Parker eighth overall in the first round of Major League Baseball's draft on Sunday. The six-foot-two Parker, 18, attended Purvis High School in Mississippi. He became the highest-ever pick out of Purvis. He batted .489 with 13 home runs and 35 runs batted in this past season. The 200-pound athlete also stole 30 bases to lead the Tornadoes (29-8) to the Class 4A state championship game. Parker, also a right-handed pitcher on the high school level, boasted an 8-2 record with a 2.77 earned-run average and 89 strikeouts in 55.2 innings. He is currently signed to play college baseball with Mississippi State University next season. In the third round, the Jays selected Jake Cook of Madison, Miss., with the 81st pick. The 22-year-old left-hander was recruited as a two-way player by Southern Mississippi. He focused on pitching and reached 96 miles per hour with his fastball, but his inability to throw strikes led to him redshirting in 2023 and working just two innings last year. Converted to a centre-fielder this spring, he batted .350 with a seven per cent strikeout rate and displayed some of the best speed and outfield range in college baseball. He can get from home to first in less than 3.8 seconds and turned in the best 30-yard dash (3.51 seconds) of all players who participated in athletic testing at the draft combine. On Tuesday, Toronto chose right-handed pitcher Micah Bucknam with its fourth-round pick. The Blue Jays also selected him in the 16th round in 2021 before he chose college ball. Bucknam was born in New Zealand but was raised in Canada. Charles Davalan, an outfielder from St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que., became the first Canadian-born player selected when the Los Angeles Dodgers took him 41st overall in the Competitive Balance Round A. Canadian hurler a surprise pick at 70th The University of Arkansas standout made a name for himself in the SEC, combining speed, defence, and offensive production to become a top-end draft prospect. Right-handed pitcher Will Hynes of Mississauga, Ont., was selected by the Cleveland Guardians with the 70th overall pick. Hynes is a prep righty who is listed at six-foot-two, 180 pounds. He wasn't expected to be drafted this high, but Hynes has been up to 95 mph with his fastball and is advanced at spinning the ball. Hynes, a member of the Junior National Team, is known for his poise and projectability on the mound. He participated in the spring training Dominican Summer League and MLB Draft League camps. He is committed to attending Wake Forest. Three additional players with Canadian ties were also selected on the first day of the draft. Tyler Bremner of San Diego, Calif., a Canadian citizen through his parents, went second overall to the Los Angeles Angels after a dominant season at UC Santa Barbara. Slater de Brun of Summit, Ore., also a Canadian citizen, was selected 37th overall by the Baltimore Orioles out of Summit High School. Cam Leiter of Bayville, N.J., who spent a decade living in B.C. and played for the Langley Blaze, was taken 65th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers after pitching at Florida State University in 2024.

Date set for Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup banner raising to open NHL season
Date set for Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup banner raising to open NHL season

National Post

timean hour ago

  • National Post

Date set for Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup banner raising to open NHL season

The Florida Panthers are set to raise their second consecutive Stanley Cup banner before beginning the NHL season against the Chicago Blackhawks. Article content The back-to-back champions play at 5 p.m. EDT on Oct. 7 to lead off an opening night tripleheader, the league announced Monday. Florida defeated Edmonton in the teams' Cup final rematch and is aiming for the NHL's first threepeat since the New York Islanders' dynasty from 1980-83. Article content Article content Article content Also on Oct. 7, the New York Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m., with the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. EDT. Mike Sullivan makes his Rangers coaching debut against the team he guided to the Stanley Cup in 2016 and '17 and from whom he split after a third consecutive season out of the playoffs. Article content The remainder of the schedule is set to be released Wednesday. It includes a break for players to participate in the Milan-Cortina Olympics, the NHL's return to that stage for the first time since 2014. Article content This is the final 82-game regular season before going to 84 in 2026-27 as part of a collective bargaining agreement extension agreed to and ratified by the league and the Players' Association. Along with a reduction in exhibition play, that will mean a total of 1,344 games, up from the current 1,312. Article content

Chelsea's Cole Palmer confused by Donald Trump's lingering presence at Club World Cup
Chelsea's Cole Palmer confused by Donald Trump's lingering presence at Club World Cup

National Post

time3 hours ago

  • National Post

Chelsea's Cole Palmer confused by Donald Trump's lingering presence at Club World Cup

Cole Palmer was jumping up and down behind Reece James as the Chelsea captain received the trophy for the Club World Cup, U.S. President Donald Trump to his left, standing between the midfielder and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Article content 'I knew he was going to be here, but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, so I was a bit confused,' Palmer said. Article content Article content Palmer received the Golden Ball as top player of the tournament after scoring the first two goals in Chelsea's 3-0 smothering of Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. Trump — wearing a bright red tie — appeared to leave the award stand with a medal of his own, handed to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino right after the medallion presented to James. Article content At 23, Palmer was selected player of the match for Chelsea's second straight final. A rising English star, he assisted twice in a 4-1 win over Real Betis on May 28 that won the Europa Conference League. He also scored the Blues' first goal in the 2-1 quarterfinal Club World Cup win over Palmeiras and had England's goal in its 2024 European Championship final defeat to Spain. Article content Chelsea F.C. star Cole Palmer, who also won the Player of the Tournament at the FIFA Club World Cup, appears to be confused why Donald Trump was on stage during the trophy celebration 🤣😆. — Clement (@88cIement) July 13, 2025 Article content He had his name up in the bright lights this weekend. He posed for a photo in front of a huge video board of his image in a Nike ad emblazoned with the words: 'Scary Good.' It was part of a campaign that also features Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior. Article content 'I've seen the billboards in Times Square and outside of Madison Square Garden,' Palmer said. 'It's a nice feeling to be obviously alongside them type of players.' Article content Palmer had almost identical left-footed goals from just inside the penalty area in the 22nd and 30th minutes, then sent a through pass that enabled João Pedro to chip goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43rd for his third goal in two starts with the Blues. Article content Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who wanted to exploit space on PSG's left flank, told his players he wanted them to attack from the opening whistle. Article content 'I think we won the game in the first 10 minutes and the message before the game was let them understand that we are here to win the game,' Maresca said. 'Probably set a little bit the tone of the game.' Article content Chelsea went ahead after Sanchez kicked the ball downfield and Nuno Mendes mis-hit his header 15 yards past the midfield stripe toward his own goal. Malo Gusto's shot was blocked by Lucas Beraldo and rebounded to Palmer, who ended PSG's streak of 436 minutes without conceding. Article content Article content 'These are the games where we expect Cole to appear because they are big games, big moments,' Maresca said. Article content 'It's a great feeling. Even better because obviously everyone doubted us before the game,' Palmer said. 'The gaffer put a great gameplan out, and obviously, he knew where the space was going to be.' Article content

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store