Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer out of time to correct these two concerning trends

When the Toronto Blue Jays signed Max Scherzer in the offseason, the hope was that the 41-year-old could find a little bit of late-career magic and help them earn a postseason berth. Scherzer has certainly done that, despite battling a thumb injury that kept him out for the better part of the first three months.

However, he hasn't been making it easy for the Blue Jays to lock down the AL East title mostly thanks to the two concerning trends of failing to get guys out in two strike counts, and giving up runs in the first inning.

Max Scherzer out of time to correct these two concerning trends

None of Scherzer's numbers have been good down the stretch. In four games in September, opponents have hit .348/.408/.623 with a 1.031 OPS and .444 BABIP. Specifically though, all season long he has struggled to get out of the first inning. He's pitched to a 12.96 ERA, giving up 24 runs in 16.2 innings pitched. While his strikeout numbers remain good (17 K's) he's allowed 33 hits and opponents have a .456 BABIP against him. In September alone, he's allowed 15 runs in that opening inning.

Scherzer has also not been able to put guys away in two-strike counts. Once again, while his overall numbers in these counts aren't terrible, hitters have a .316 BABIP in those situations. In September specifically, Scherzer has been leaning on his four-seam fastball in those counts which hasn't yielded the best results.

In the Blue Jays, the three-run home run Scherzer allowed to Ben Rice was on a 3-2 four-seam fastball that Rice launched with an exit velocity of 109.4 mph. In his next start, the first three batters of the game reached base, all in counts with two strikes. Jackson Holliday singled on a 1-2 pitch, Dylan Beavers walked on a full-count, and and Gunnar Henderson doubled in both runners.

In his next start, he allowed seven runs in the first inning to Kansas City. Four of the first five batters were in two-strike counts and all of them reached base. Jac Caglianone was the eighth batter of the inning and the first out, striking out on three pitches. But the next batter, Michael Massey homered on a 2-2 pitch. Scherzer was removed from the game a few batters later, recording just two outs in the process.

In his latest start, on Wednesday against Boston, Scherzer struck out the first batter of the game in a 1-2 count. The next five batters reached base, three of them doing so after Scherzer got two strikes on them.

With only three games left in the season, Scherzer could have very well have pitched his last game with the Blue Jays. It's unlikely he gets a start in the series against the Rays to close out the season and with the way he has pitched over the last month, it will be hard to trust him in a playoff scenario unless the Blue Jays have a series lead.