<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> needed a big win last night, given the close race in the AL East, and it was veteran Max Scherzer being tasked with the moment.</p>
<p>Scherzer was coming off the worst start of his big league career, lasting just 2/3 of an inning against the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander allowed seven hits, seven earned runs, two homers, and one walk before manager John Schneider stopped the bleeding. The task would be difficult against a pesky Red Sox squad, and the AL East rival gave him fits through five innings, collecting ten hits while scoring four runs, three of which came in the first inning, in the eventual 7-1 loss.</p>
<p>This outing was tough for several reasons, but Scherzer&#8217;s first-inning setbacks have not been limited to just this one contest.</p>
<p>This year, Scherzer owns a 12.96 ERA in the first inning through 17 starts, allowing 24 earned runs off 33 hits. These stats reflect the three earned runs he surrendered against the Red Sox last night, and before that, he went into the outing with a 12.06 ERA through 15 2/3 innings, allowing 21 earned runs. Opponents posted a .384/.438/.753 slash line with a 1.191 OPS during those 16 starts (not including last night), and seven of his 19 home runs this season have come in the first inning.</p>
<p>Scherzer&#8217;s struggles with the first inning can also be reflected when he faces the top of the opposing team&#8217;s lineup. Although this data is a bit skewed because he faces the top four batters multiple times throughout the game, the first inning is what particularly gives him trouble.</p>
<div class="sr_share_wrap" style="overflow: auto;">
<table id="" class="sr_share" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0.83em; overflow: auto; height: 124px;" width="1267">
<caption>Batting Order Positions vs. Scherzer</caption>
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<thead>
<tr>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 207.2px;" scope="col">Split</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 40.5833px;" scope="col">G</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 55.4333px;" scope="col">PA</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 57.3px;" scope="col">AB</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 43.6833px;" scope="col">R</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 42.7px;" scope="col">H</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 52.9667px;" scope="col">2B</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 52.9167px;" scope="col">3B</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 63.6833px;" scope="col">HR</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 57.25px;" scope="col">BB</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 55.7667px;" scope="col">SO</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 77.7667px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Batting Average">BA</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 82.3833px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="On-Base%">OBP</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 93.4833px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Slugging %">SLG</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 89.85px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="On-Base Plus Slugging">OPS</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 111.9px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Batting Average on Balls In Play">BAbip</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 1st</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">48</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">43</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.302</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.375</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">.581</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">.956</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.323</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 2nd</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">45</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">40</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">16</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.400</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.467</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">.725</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">1.192</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.448</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 3rd</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">43</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">40</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.325</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.372</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">.500</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">.872</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.364</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 4th</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">41</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">37</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">18</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.324</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.390</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">1.000</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">1.390</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.174</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div id="credit_lineu" class="sr_share" style="font-size: 0.83em;">Provided by <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool">Baseball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=scherma01&amp;year=2025&amp;t=p&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool#lineu">View Original Table</a></p>
</div>
<p>The following inning sees Scherzer improve dramatically as he settles down and faces bats further down the lineup, authoring a 0.56 ERA through 16 innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run this season. He sits between the 2.90-4.00 mark between the third to fifth innings, and struggles again in the sixth inning, where he has allowed 10 hits and eight earned runs (where the top of the order would see him again for a third time).</p>
<p>So what does <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-max-scherzer-rotation-bullpen-postseason">this lead to</a>? Does Scherzer earn a spot on the postseason roster, regardless of whether it&#8217;s the Wild Card or ALDS? Do the Jays have to work with an opener moving forward?</p>
<p>These are legitimate questions that Schneider and co. will need to figure it out, mostly because outside of the first inning struggles, Scherzer isn&#8217;t having a great time finishing the campaign.</p>
<p>Through four starts in September, Scherzer owns a 10.20 ERA through 15 innings of work, allowing 17 hits off of 24 hits while walking seven. That&#8217;s an uptick across the board, and while he did strike out 20 batters this last month, opposing bats are teeing off on his pitches (.348/.408/.623 with a 1.031 OPS). Whether it&#8217;s because he is tipping pitches again due to his glove placement or a few too many mistake pitches, opposing bats are barrelling the right-hander (12.4%), and he is working with a -10 pitching run value.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Max Scherzer:</p>
<p>“Baseball can flip in a heartbeat. Things can change overnight for no apparent reason. And so, when you look yourself in the mirror, you have to just know who you are”</p>
<p>&mdash; Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1971037434847822126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>What Schneider decides will also impact how the Jays use the rest of the rotation, mostly because Chris Bassitt is on the IL for the rest of the regular season and Jose Berrios is in the bullpen moving forward.</p>
<p>The Jays already need Louis Varland to open today, followed by an extended outing from Eric Lauer with Bieber getting pushed back. This issue will become even more prevalent if Toronto ends up in the Wild Card instead of the ALDS, needing to get a few more outings out of their starting corps compared to getting the bye.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a bit of a cluster down in the Blue Jays&#8217; rotation, and the issue is only magnified with the Yankees now tied with Toronto for the division lead (again, minus tiebreaker). While Scherzer seemed like a lock for the postseason a month ago, there is considerable doubt as to whether he is a name Schneider can pencil into the rotation come October.</p>
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The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> needed a big win last night, given the close race in the AL East, and it was veteran Max Scherzer being tasked with the moment.

Scherzer was coming off the worst start of his big league career, lasting just 2/3 of an inning against the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander allowed seven hits, seven earned runs, two homers, and one walk before manager John Schneider stopped the bleeding. The task would be difficult against a pesky Red Sox squad, and the AL East rival gave him fits through five innings, collecting ten hits while scoring four runs, three of which came in the first inning, in the eventual 7-1 loss.

This outing was tough for several reasons, but Scherzer's first-inning setbacks have not been limited to just this one contest.

This year, Scherzer owns a 12.96 ERA in the first inning through 17 starts, allowing 24 earned runs off 33 hits. These stats reflect the three earned runs he surrendered against the Red Sox last night, and before that, he went into the outing with a 12.06 ERA through 15 2/3 innings, allowing 21 earned runs. Opponents posted a .384/.438/.753 slash line with a 1.191 OPS during those 16 starts (not including last night), and seven of his 19 home runs this season have come in the first inning.

Scherzer's struggles with the first inning can also be reflected when he faces the top of the opposing team's lineup. Although this data is a bit skewed because he faces the top four batters multiple times throughout the game, the first inning is what particularly gives him trouble.
<div class="sr_share_wrap" style="overflow: auto;">
<table id="" class="sr_share" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0.83em; overflow: auto; height: 124px;" width="1267"><caption>Batting Order Positions vs. Scherzer</caption><colgroup> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <col /></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 207.2px;" scope="col">Split</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 40.5833px;" scope="col">G</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 55.4333px;" scope="col">PA</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 57.3px;" scope="col">AB</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 43.6833px;" scope="col">R</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 42.7px;" scope="col">H</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 52.9667px;" scope="col">2B</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 52.9167px;" scope="col">3B</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 63.6833px;" scope="col">HR</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 57.25px;" scope="col">BB</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 55.7667px;" scope="col">SO</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 77.7667px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Batting Average">BA</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 82.3833px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="On-Base%">OBP</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 93.4833px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Slugging %">SLG</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 89.85px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="On-Base Plus Slugging">OPS</th>
<th style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; padding: 2px; width: 111.9px;" scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Batting Average on Balls In Play">BAbip</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 1st</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">48</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">43</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">9</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.302</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.375</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">.581</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">.956</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.323</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 2nd</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">45</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">40</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">16</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.400</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.467</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">.725</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">1.192</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.448</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 3rd</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">43</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">40</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">7</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">13</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.325</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.372</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">.500</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">.872</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.364</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 206.2px;" scope="row">Batting 4th</th>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 39.5833px;">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.4333px;">41</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.3px;">37</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 42.6833px;">18</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 41.7px;">12</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9667px;">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 51.9167px;">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 62.6833px;">8</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 56.25px;">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 54.7667px;">6</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 76.7667px;">.324</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 81.3833px;">.390</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 92.4833px;">1.000</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 88.85px;">1.390</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 110.9px;">.174</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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The following inning sees Scherzer improve dramatically as he settles down and faces bats further down the lineup, authoring a 0.56 ERA through 16 innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run this season. He sits between the 2.90-4.00 mark between the third to fifth innings, and struggles again in the sixth inning, where he has allowed 10 hits and eight earned runs (where the top of the order would see him again for a third time).

So what does <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-max-scherzer-rotation-bullpen-postseason">this lead to</a>? Does Scherzer earn a spot on the postseason roster, regardless of whether it's the Wild Card or ALDS? Do the Jays have to work with an opener moving forward?

These are legitimate questions that Schneider and co. will need to figure it out, mostly because outside of the first inning struggles, Scherzer isn't having a great time finishing the campaign.

Through four starts in September, Scherzer owns a 10.20 ERA through 15 innings of work, allowing 17 hits off of 24 hits while walking seven. That's an uptick across the board, and while he did strike out 20 batters this last month, opposing bats are teeing off on his pitches (.348/.408/.623 with a 1.031 OPS). Whether it's because he is tipping pitches again due to his glove placement or a few too many mistake pitches, opposing bats are barrelling the right-hander (12.4%), and he is working with a -10 pitching run value.

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1971037434847822126

What Schneider decides will also impact how the Jays use the rest of the rotation, mostly because Chris Bassitt is on the IL for the rest of the regular season and Jose Berrios is in the bullpen moving forward.

The Jays already need Louis Varland to open today, followed by an extended outing from Eric Lauer with Bieber getting pushed back. This issue will become even more prevalent if Toronto ends up in the Wild Card instead of the ALDS, needing to get a few more outings out of their starting corps compared to getting the bye.

It's a bit of a cluster down in the Blue Jays' rotation, and the issue is only magnified with the Yankees now tied with Toronto for the division lead (again, minus tiebreaker). While Scherzer seemed like a lock for the postseason a month ago, there is considerable doubt as to whether he is a name Schneider can pencil into the rotation come October.

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Blue Jays: Max Scherzer and the curse of the first inning

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