Blue Jays' Scherzer set to pitch in 4th World Series: 'This means everything'

When the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a trip to the World Series, veteran pitcher Max Scherzer was emotional about getting another chance to play in the Fall Classic.

Scherzer will be Toronto's starter for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday at 8 p.m. ET when Major League Baseball's championship moves to Los Angeles, meaning he'll pitch in the World Series for a fourth time.

The teams split the first two games in Toronto, with the Jays winning Game 1 11-4 and the defending champion Dodgers bouncing back in Game 2 with a 5-1 victory.

The 41-year-old Scherzer said it was "awesome" when Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed he'd be returning to the mound on the game's biggest stage.

"This is what you play for, to be able to get to this spot, to get to this moment, to have a shot at it," said Scherzer before Game 2 at Rogers Centre. "There's so many great players that have never gotten to a World Series, so many great players where they only have one World Series.

"I absolutely respect playing in a World Series, what that means, and absolutely cherish these opportunities. When I get a chance to get the ball, man, this means everything."

The right-hander has a 221-117 record over 18 MLB seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Toronto. He has a 3.22 earned-run average over his career with 3,489 strikeouts.

His previus World Series starts were one in 2012 with the Tigers, two with the Nationals in 2019 and one with the Rangers in 2023.

Scherzer has won the Cy Young Award three times, being recognized as the best pitcher in the American League in 2013 with Detroit and then in the National League in 2016 and 2017 with Washington. He's an