¾¢±¬“ó¹Ļ

Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. National Sports

Jays' Scherzer finds his 'good stuff' in strong start against Yankees

TORONTO ā€” Pitcher Max Scherzerā€™s second start at Rogers Centre this season was far more successful than this first.
Mike Stephens, The Canadian Press
facd7d7446f576b08a2f87b47b8237f6279df625b079a2c1546349b8df26db25
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during fifth inning MLB baseball action, in Toronto on Monday, June 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Thomas Skrlj

TORONTO ā€” Pitcher Max Scherzerā€™s second start at Rogers Centre this season was far more successful than this first.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched five strong innings on Monday night as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 5-4. Scherzer struck out seven while allowing three hits and two runs on 71 pitches.

He also did not walk a batter, and his fastball topped out at over 95 miles-per-hour.

ā€œI thought I was on the ball better today,ā€ said Scherzer post-game. ā€œI kind of made a little adjustment in-between starts and I felt like it got me in and really started dialing in pitches.ā€

Scherzer was forced to leave his first start with the Blue Jays on March 29 after just 41 pitches due to a thumb issue, spending the next three months on the Injured List. Monday was just his third start of the season.

ā€œI felt like I had a good fastball tonight,ā€ he said, crediting the pitch for his success against a vaunted Yankees lineup.

ā€œI was able to pitch with that and set up every other pitch and it allowed me to kind of navigate their lineup a little bit when I was in there. So, thereā€™s a lot of good.ā€

This version of Scherzer appears to be the version the Blue Jays were expecting when they signed him to a one-year contract worth $15.5 million.

ā€œIt was evident with the way he started the game, that, yeah, thatā€™s the best version of Max that weā€™ve seenā€ said Blue Jays manager John Schneider following the game.

ā€œThatā€™s who he is,ā€ said Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ā€œHeā€™s the type of person who comes here early every day, always focuses on the game, and gives you everything heā€™s got.ā€

Scherzerā€™s return has come at an opportune time for the Blue Jays.

With the club in the thick of a divisional race, Mondayā€™s victory leaves the Blue Jays just two games back of the Yankees for the American League East lead.

The Blue Jays have gone 30-18 since May 8, earning the third-best winning percentage in the majors during that span while also ranking top-10 in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS.

ā€œEverybodyā€™s been doing their job,ā€ said Guerrero Jr. ā€œJust helping each other. And we trust in each other a lot. So, weā€™ve been playing great as a team.ā€

It was a total team effort for the Blue Jays on Monday.

Guerrero Jr. drove home three runs with a single and double, while second baseman Davis Schneider finished 2-for-3 with a double and shortstop Ernie Clement went 2-for-5 with one RBI.

With the lead down to one in the bottom of the ninth, closer Jeff Hoffman entered the game and pitched a scoreless frame to secure the victory and earn his 19th save of the year, ranking him third among American League pitchers.

ā€œIt felt like a very meaningful baseball game,ā€ said Schneider. ā€œIt is June. Itā€™ll be July tomorrow (Tuesday), and tomorrowā€™s a big day for us as a team and as a country. Iā€™m sure itā€™ll be fun again tomorrow.ā€

UP NEXT

Right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-6) starts for the Jays on Canada Day, while the visiting Yankees will hand the ball to left-hander Max Fried (10-2).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.

Mike Stephens, The Canadian Press