Blue Jays' Max Scherzer Shares Off-Field Update on Thursday
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer has had an unbelievably successful career in Major League Baseball. Playing in his 19th year in the majors, Scherzer has appeared in 487 games, pitching to a 3.24 ERA in 2979 1/3 innings, totaling 3,499 strikeouts with 784 walks.
The 41-year-old has made the MLB All-Star Game eight times, won three Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles during his illustrious career.
Scherzer has struggled through his first four starts of the 2026 season, as he has totaled just 16 1/3 innings with a 7.16 ERA. He's gone 1-2 in those starts, surrendering 16 hits and 13 earned runs while striking out 10 batters with five walks.
Scherzer, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract to return to Toronto this season, has dealt with injuries in the past two years, which have limited his availability in the latter stages of his career.
In 2025, he began the year on the injured list due to right thumb inflammation that caused severe issues with his grip and led to other ailments. He made just 17 starts last season, but he returned in the postseason to help Toronto win an American League pennant.
On Thursday, USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale wrote about how Scherzer has been able to limit the pain in his thumb playing piano with his children.
"I was just trying to get my kids to play the piano," Scherzer said. "All right, I've got to learn a few songs to teach them now to play the piano. And when I did that, I noticed, oh, my fingers are sore from playing the piano. And I go pitch, and I'm like, "Wait a minute, my thumb's better."
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer, on verge of cracking top-10 strikeout list, says piano saved his Hall of Fame career https://t.co/p30Kzb5FjM
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 23, 2026
Scherzer, who is scheduled to start on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians, is just one strikeout away from being the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,500 punch outs. He also trails Walter Johnson for 10th all-time by just 10 strikeouts.
"I played a little bit more, played more with the kids, and my hand's even better," Scherzer continued. "I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, did I finally figure this out?' So I chased it. I tried to play as long as I can, and my fingers are really sore in between starts. Then, I get back out there, and my thumb pain was gone."
Scherzer will take the mound at 7:07 p.m. ET on Friday against the Guardians at Rogers Centre in Toronto as he looks to etch his name into the record books.
Related: Blue Jays' John Schneider Announces Max Scherzer News Before Twins Game
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 11:26 AM.