With a runner on first and two outs in the fifth inning of Game 4 of the ALCS, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider walked out to have a chat with starting pitcher Max Scherzer. It went about how you would expect if you’re familiar with Max Scherzer.
As soon as Schneider reached the mound, Scherzer began barking at him. It’s unclear if Schneider wanted to pull the future Hall of Famer or simply talk about the next batter, Randy Arozarena, but the message from the pitcher was all the same.
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In a word: “No.”
Naturally, Scherzer rewarded his manager’s trust and/or fear by striking out Arozarena.
The veteran right-hander made sure to let Schneider know it as he walked into the dugout.
Scherzer wound up staying in the game for the start of the sixth inning. He got the first two outs with a Cal Raleigh flyout and Julio Rodríguez strikeout, but walked Jorge Polanco on his 87th pitch of the game. That finally led to Schneider pulling him for left-hander Mason Fluharty, who ended up allowing Polanco to score.
Scherzer’s final line: 5 2/3 innings, three hits, two runs, four walks and five strikeouts in a pivotal Game 4.
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The postseason hasn’t always been kind to the three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion, but it’s never been for a lack of intensity. This is a guy can be seen growling and muttering under his breath, often profanely, between pitches during the regular season, and he hasn’t changed at 41 years old and on his seventh MLB team.
There’s a reason Toronto wanted a pitcher like him on a team with playoff aspirations before the season, inking him to a one-year, $15.5 million deal before the season. It wasn’t pretty during the regular season, with a thumb injury knocking him out for most of the first half and a 5.19 ERA on the season, but he answered the bell in Game 4, putting his team in position to tie a series that felt nearly lost as it left Toronto.
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