Max Scherzer delivered his strongest performance of the season on Sunday, holding the St. Louis Cardinals to a single run on four hits over six innings in a 5-1 loss at Rogers Centre. The 42-year-old veteran struck out five batters, bringing his career total to 3,512, just three shy of tying Walter Johnson for the 10th-most strikeouts in Major League history. Scherzer, a likely future Hall of Famer, expressed surprise at the milestone and confidence in his continued impact.
Despite the strong outing, Scherzer acknowledged uncertainty regarding his status as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. The Blue Jays face a critical 6 p.m. deadline for trades that could reshape their roster, but Scherzer did not anticipate a move away from Toronto. “Who knows what is going to happen here in the next 24 hours,” he said ahead of the team’s upcoming series in Houston against the Astros.
Toronto’s season has been hampered by injuries and inconsistency, with Scherzer able to complete at least six innings in only two of eight starts this year. The club currently holds a losing record and sits on the fringe of the wild card race in the American League.
Late Sunday reports indicated that Kevin Gausman, Toronto’s top pitcher over the past five seasons, was traded to the Chicago Cubs. The team planned a video conference with general manager Ross Atkins on Monday following the trade deadline’s close. Alongside Scherzer and Gausman, players like George Springer and Daulton Varsho remain potential trade candidates, as other teams look to bolster their rosters for postseason contention.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider declined to speculate on possible roster changes, emphasizing trust in his current players. "I’m going to ride with these guys every day no matter what happens," he said.
Sunday’s game featured a late collapse that squandered Scherzer’s solid start. With the score tied 1-1 entering the ninth inning, reliever Louis Varland surrendered four runs—three earned—on several hits and a critical error by Luis Urias during a failed throw to first base. This marked a season-worst performance for Varland and ultimately sealed the Cardinals’ victory.
The Blue Jays remain active as the trade deadline approaches, balancing hopes for playoff qualification against the challenge of building a competitive roster amid shifting player availability.