<p>Three errors, a bench-clearing incident, and a blown opportunity to win a game in which the Blue Jays were tied after Paul Skenes threw his final pitch. For the sake of the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Blue Jays</a> staff, players, and fans, let&#8217;s just put last night&#8217;s game behind us.</p>
<p>Even with last night&#8217;s loss, the Blue Jays didn&#8217;t feel too much impact on the out-of-town scoreboard with Boston, Seattle, and Houston all losing. However, with the quality of opponents that Toronto will be facing over the next week or so, they can&#8217;t fumble an opportunity to build some ground in the standings.</p>
<p>Toronto has a chance to right the ship tonight in the second game of this week&#8217;s series against the Pirates, and they&#8217;re sending one of their best pitchers of late to the mound to get the job done. That would be none other than Max Scherzer, who is going for his fifth consecutive quality start tonight.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="de" dir="ltr">Scherzday in Pittsburgh 😤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lightsupletsgo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lightsupletsgo</a> <a href="https://t.co/27zynqf5hn">pic.twitter.com/27zynqf5hn</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1957891283097395284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>On the season, Scherzer has posted a 3.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9 over 10 starts and 54 innings. Through his previous four starts, he&#8217;s holding a 2.42 ERA with 24 strikeouts versus 6 walks, and he&#8217;s pitched at least into the seventh inning three times. Scherzer is coming off arguably his best start of the season, holding the Cubs to just one run over seven innings with five hits and one walk allowed.</p>
<p>Scherzer has fared well against the Pirates throughout his career, owning a 2.79 ERA against them in 14 games, including a no-hitter against them in 2015. Although historic, the biggest moment from that game was José Tábata <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/350620120">arguably leaning</a> into a slider with two outs in the ninth inning. The pitch hit Tábata, and Scherzer&#8217;s perfect game bid became a no-hit bid.</p>
<p>Despite the overall success against them for his career, his ERA is almost doubled when you consider his six career games at PNC Park. He&#8217;s also faced just five players on Pittsburgh&#8217;s current roster, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa having the most success against him with a 4-for-8 mark and two doubles. Veteran Andrew McCutchen has logged 41 at-bats against Scherzer over his career, but he&#8217;s only generated eight hits against him.</p>
<p>Opposing Scherzer tonight is Mitch Keller, who found himself remaining on Pittsburgh&#8217;s roster after being a trendy name during trade deadline discourse this season. Keller has posted a 4.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 7.1 K/9 over 25 starts this season. His numbers have taken a dip since the second half of the season began, allowing 19 earned runs over 22 2/3 innings in that timeframe. He&#8217;s also holding his lowest strikeout rate since the 2020 season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just has some inflammation in his left hamstring. </p>
<p>Good news for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> at this point and John Schneider sounded relieved. </p>
<p>He’s day-to-day and they could potentially use the off day Thursday.</p>
<p>&mdash; Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1957904501622390804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Keller faced the Blue Jays last year, allowing just one earned run over six innings of work with eight strikeouts and just one walk. He dealt with traffic on the basepaths in all but two frames, with his only run-scoring hit allowed coming via an RBI single from Daniel Vogelbach.</p>
<p>Andrés Giménez is 3-for-6 against Keller in his career, including a solo home run against him last season when Giménez was with Cleveland.</p>
<p>The most glaring detail from Toronto&#8217;s lineup tonight is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn&#8217;t in it after he left last night&#8217;s game with left hamstring tightness. Bo Bichette slides up to the three spot, Alejandro Kirk hitting cleanup for the first time since July 13th, and Ty France will take Guerrero&#8217;s spot at first base and hit sixth.</p>
<p>After playing in 10 straight games, Daulton Varsho will not start in Toronto&#8217;s lineup for the first time since August 6th. Myles Straw takes his place in centre field.</p>
<hr />
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<p><strong>Location: </strong>PNC Park &#8211; Pittsburgh, PA</p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: </strong>6:40 PM EST</p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: </strong>Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan</p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; </strong>Max Scherzer: 3-2 record, 3.83 ERA, 54 IP, 52 SO, 12 BB</p>
<p><strong>Pittsburgh Pirates &#8211;</strong> Mitch Keller: 5-11 record, 4.13 ERA, 141 2/3 IP, 112 SO, 39 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>George Springer &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Addison Barger &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Bo Bichette &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Ty France &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Andrés Giménez &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Myles Straw &#8211; CF</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Pirates:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Ronny Simón &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Spencer Horwitz &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Bryan Reynolds &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Nick Gonzales &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Andrew McCutchen &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Jack Suwinski &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Joey Bart &#8211; C</li>
<li>Jared Triolo &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa &#8211; 3B</li>
</ol>
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Three errors, a bench-clearing incident, and a blown opportunity to win a game in which the Blue Jays were tied after Paul Skenes threw his final pitch. For the sake of the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Blue Jays</a> staff, players, and fans, let's just put last night's game behind us.

Even with last night's loss, the Blue Jays didn't feel too much impact on the out-of-town scoreboard with Boston, Seattle, and Houston all losing. However, with the quality of opponents that Toronto will be facing over the next week or so, they can't fumble an opportunity to build some ground in the standings.

Toronto has a chance to right the ship tonight in the second game of this week's series against the Pirates, and they're sending one of their best pitchers of late to the mound to get the job done. That would be none other than Max Scherzer, who is going for his fifth consecutive quality start tonight.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1957891283097395284

On the season, Scherzer has posted a 3.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9 over 10 starts and 54 innings. Through his previous four starts, he's holding a 2.42 ERA with 24 strikeouts versus 6 walks, and he's pitched at least into the seventh inning three times. Scherzer is coming off arguably his best start of the season, holding the Cubs to just one run over seven innings with five hits and one walk allowed.

Scherzer has fared well against the Pirates throughout his career, owning a 2.79 ERA against them in 14 games, including a no-hitter against them in 2015. Although historic, the biggest moment from that game was José Tábata <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/350620120">arguably leaning</a> into a slider with two outs in the ninth inning. The pitch hit Tábata, and Scherzer's perfect game bid became a no-hit bid.

Despite the overall success against them for his career, his ERA is almost doubled when you consider his six career games at PNC Park. He's also faced just five players on Pittsburgh's current roster, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa having the most success against him with a 4-for-8 mark and two doubles. Veteran Andrew McCutchen has logged 41 at-bats against Scherzer over his career, but he's only generated eight hits against him.

Opposing Scherzer tonight is Mitch Keller, who found himself remaining on Pittsburgh's roster after being a trendy name during trade deadline discourse this season. Keller has posted a 4.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 7.1 K/9 over 25 starts this season. His numbers have taken a dip since the second half of the season began, allowing 19 earned runs over 22 2/3 innings in that timeframe. He's also holding his lowest strikeout rate since the 2020 season.

https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1957904501622390804

Keller faced the Blue Jays last year, allowing just one earned run over six innings of work with eight strikeouts and just one walk. He dealt with traffic on the basepaths in all but two frames, with his only run-scoring hit allowed coming via an RBI single from Daniel Vogelbach.

Andrés Giménez is 3-for-6 against Keller in his career, including a solo home run against him last season when Giménez was with Cleveland.

The most glaring detail from Toronto's lineup tonight is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn't in it after he left last night's game with left hamstring tightness. Bo Bichette slides up to the three spot, Alejandro Kirk hitting cleanup for the first time since July 13th, and Ty France will take Guerrero's spot at first base and hit sixth.

After playing in 10 straight games, Daulton Varsho will not start in Toronto's lineup for the first time since August 6th. Myles Straw takes his place in centre field.

<hr />

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<strong>Location: </strong>PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA

<strong>First Pitch: </strong>6:40 PM EST

<strong>Watch/Listen: </strong>Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - </strong>Max Scherzer: 3-2 record, 3.83 ERA, 54 IP, 52 SO, 12 BB

<strong>Pittsburgh Pirates -</strong> Mitch Keller: 5-11 record, 4.13 ERA, 141 2/3 IP, 112 SO, 39 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>George Springer - DH</li>
 	<li>Addison Barger - RF</li>
 	<li>Bo Bichette - SS</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - LF</li>
 	<li>Ty France - 1B</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 3B</li>
 	<li>Andrés Giménez - 2B</li>
 	<li>Myles Straw - CF</li>
</ol>
<strong>Pirates:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Ronny Simón - LF</li>
 	<li>Spencer Horwitz - 1B</li>
 	<li>Bryan Reynolds - RF</li>
 	<li>Nick Gonzales - 2B</li>
 	<li>Andrew McCutchen - DH</li>
 	<li>Jack Suwinski - CF</li>
 	<li>Joey Bart - C</li>
 	<li>Jared Triolo - SS</li>
 	<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 3B</li>
</ol>

<hr />

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Blue Jays GDB – 126.0: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. out of the starting lineup as Blue Jays look to even series in Pittsburgh

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