This ain’t simply another game on the schedule, folks. Max Scherzer, a legit Hall of Famer, is stepping onto the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cincinnati Reds in what could seriously be his final start ever in MLB.
The Final Ride For a Legend?
Dude’s got 3,550 career strikeouts, which ranks him ninth all-time, and you know he’s looking at Justin Verlander, who just moved 10 ahead of him in *his* final start on Saturday. Scherzer even laughed when asked about the Verlander thing, saying his motivation is simply to compete and have fun. But make no mistake, he and his family circled this date ages ago, “just in case” this is his last dance in front of his kids. Imagine that pressure, the weight of a decorated career possibly ending right there. This game is going to be a massive historical footnote for sure, especially with all the talk about a potential MLB labor lockout that might even push into next summer.
Reds Looking To Spoil a Historic Day
For the Cincinnati Reds, they’re heading into this finale after taking down the sloppy Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday, September 26. This means the Reds have a shot to actually win their final series of the season. More than that, they could complete their first winning road trip since all the way back in July. That’s a big deal, even if they aren’t sniffing the playoffs this year.
Facing Scherzer won’t be easy, though. History says he absolutely carves up the Reds. He’s 6-2 with a ridiculous 1.67 ERA in 10 starts against them in his career, which is his best ERA against *any* opponent. His next best is a 2.31 ERA in 12 starts against his current team, the Blue Jays. The guy hasn’t faced them since July 2022 when he was a young man of 37, but even then he dominated, striking out 11 over six scoreless innings for the Mets in a 1-0 win. He’s piled up 95 career strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings against Cincinnati, which is a wild 13.2 K’s per nine. It’s funny how that’s unfolding, as Scherzer put it.
So yeah, even though this game’s miles from any playoff drama, there’s some real juice here. We’re talking a sold-out crowd at Rogers Centre, the Reds trying to snatch a winning road trip, and one of the greatest pitchers ever possibly playing his last game. You gotta tune in, just in case we witness history.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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