Max Scherzer turns back the clock and gives the Blue Jays a gem to even ALCS

When you are a big-game pitcher, it doesn’t matter if you are 21, 31, or heck even 41 years old, you deliver the goods. Well, for Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer, he did exactly that and more by turning back the clock in Game 4 of the ALCS to help the Blue Jays tie the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners 2-2.

Everyone knew Scherzer was locked in right from the start with his pregame routine and the moment he stepped on the mound. Stars can be stars, but legends live for this type of moment when everything is on the line. For Scherzer, he showed once again why he is one of the best pitchers ever in the sport.

Max Scherzer turns back the clock and gives the Blue Jays a gem to even the series

The former three-time Cy Young winner was in full “Mad Max” mode as he attacked every Mariners hitter like no tomorrow. The only player that managed to do any damage to Scherzer on Thursday night was Canadian Josh Naylor once again with a solo home run in the second inning to give Seattle a brief 1-0 lead.

Other than that, the 41-year-old veteran was hitting 96-97 mph on the radar gun while dominating the Mariners over 5 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits with five big strikeouts. His performance was certainly one that many will be talking about for a long time. But what made it that much more memorable was the focus, the fire and exuberant emotion that we all got to witness of Scherzer in the process.

The signature moment came in the fifth inning with the Blue Jays up 5-1 and the Mariners threatening with one runner on base and the potent top of the lineup due up. Jays manager John Schneider would emerge from the dugout, leading to the reaction of a lifetime from Scherzer.

There was no way he was going to let Schneider take him out with another early hook once again at such a huge moment in the game. Scherzer totally believed he was made for this, and promptly walked the walk by striking out Randy Arozarena to end the threat and any chance of a Seattle comeback. That pumped Scherzer and all of Jays nation up and paved way to their 8-2 thrashing of the Mariners when all was said and done.

In registering five strikeouts, it gave Scherzer 176 career punchouts during the postseason, moving him into fifth place all time for playoff strikeouts behind Andy Pettitte, John Smoltz, Clayton Kershaw and leader Justin Verlander at 244. By starting for the Jays in the MLB Playoffs on Thursday, he also becomes the first ever pitcher in MLB history to start for six different teams in the postseason, as per Just Baseball.

Down the road, some may remember Scherzer in helping the Blue Jays get back into the 2025 ALCS to potentially win it all. But most will likely never forget his defining moment in the game in the fifth inning in willing his club to victory that will live on in baseball history lore.