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Blue Jays: Max Scherzer needs an opener for Game 4 of ALCS
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Oct 16, 2025, 16:30 EDTUpdated: Oct 16, 2025, 16:46 EDT
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Max Scherzer is set to start Game 4 of the American League Championship Series for the Toronto Blue Jays. He shouldn’t.
It was a bit surprising when Scherzer was added to the ALCS roster, given that he struggled down the stretch and wasn’t on the American League Divisional Series roster. However, the Blue Jays like the matchup, and there are a maximum of seven games in this series, as opposed to five in the ALDS, so an additional starter was needed.
There’s merit to Scherzer pitching. He’s a two-time World Series winner and has pitched in 30 postseason games, 13 of which have come in the Championship Series or later. In those 13 games, Scherzer has a 4.18 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched. Pressure is something that clearly doesn’t affect Scherzer.
One area of concern this season is Scherzer’s first inning. In his 17 starts, Scherzer has given up 24 earned runs in 16.2 innings pitched in the first innings, giving him a 12.96. From innings two through five, Scherzer has given up just 17 earned runs in 59.1 innings pitched for a 2.58 ERA. The only other inning similar to his first inning is his sixth, where he’s given up eight earned runs in seven innings of work so far this season.
Scherzer’s usage in Game 4 of the ALCS is pretty obvious: give him an opener and let him pitch innings two through five before turning to the bullpen. Sure, it may be tough to ask a future Hall of Famer to come in for the second inning, but it’s the playoffs and a pivotal game for the Jays.
As for who could open for the Jays, Louis Varland has found success in this role in the last two bullpen games for the Jays. One of those games came in Game 4 of the ALDS, where he pitched a scoreless inning and a third.
Simply put, why even risk Scherzer pitching in the first inning when the numbers are so poor? By using an opener, the Blue Jays are putting themselves in the best position to win, according to the numbers.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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