Blue Jays’ Scherzer to lean on post-season experience in Game 4 of ALCS

The Toronto Blue Jays are expecting Max Scherzer to be himself when he starts Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against Seattle on Thursday evening.

His excitable, feisty self.

"I love it. This is what you play for," Scherzer said. "You want to have the ball in this situation, you want to be pitching in the post-season."

The 41-year-old Scherzer hasn't pitched in a game since his last regular-season start on Sept. 24 against Boston. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is making his 26th postseason start and 31st appearance.

Scherzer and fellow right-hander Chris Bassitt were added to Toronto's ALCS roster after they missed the Division Series against the Yankees. Bassitt pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a relief appearance during Monday night's 10-3 loss to the Mariners.

"I expect Max to be Max," Bassitt said, "in the aspect of just go out there and execute at a very, very high level."

Scherzer is 0-3 over his last eight post-season starts since the 2019 World Series. He went 1-3 with a 9.00 earned-run average in his final six starts of the 2025 season.

Scherzer admitted his pitching was not up to his standards toward the end of the season, and that he took time to get his body right. Manager John Schneider said Sunday that neck pain limited Scherzer at the end of the season. The eight-time all-star also didn't pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation.

Scherzer, who finalized a one-year contract worth $15.5 million US with Toronto in February, went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this year, his 18th in the major leagues.

"I don't want to sit here and go backwards and blame injuries for any way I pitched," Scherzer said. "When I take the mound, I take the mound, and I have