Max Scherzer strikes out 7 in 225th career win as Blue Jays beat Reds 5-1 in season finale

By: Ian Harrison, The Associated Press Posted: 4:59 PM CDT Sunday, Sep. 27, 2026

TORONTO (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out seven over seven-plus innings for his 225th career win, Brandon Valenzuela and Charles McAdoo homered and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 in Sunday’s season finale.

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A two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer (4-9) boosted his career strikeout total to 3,557. That’s the ninth-highest mark in big league history — three behind former teammate Justin Verlander, who made the final start of his decorated career Saturday.

One year after going 94-68 to win the AL East, the Blue Jays finished 79-83.

The Reds won the final NL wild-card spot in 2025 with an 83-79 record. They went 75-87 in 2026.

Scherzer allowed one run, six hits and a walk. He threw a season-high 114 pitches, 77 strikes.

Scherzer, who turned 42 in July, started on short rest after throwing 93 pitches in five innings at Baltimore last Wednesday.

The sellout crowd of 42,131 rose for a standing ovation when Scherzer took the mound alone before the game. Scherzer stepped off and saluted the crowd with a wave.

George Springer led off for Toronto in the final game before the end of his six-year, $150 million contract. Fans rose for another tribute before his at-bat, and an emotional Springer exhaled as he stepped out and tipped his helmet.

After Springer hit a leadoff double in the third inning, Sean Keys came on to run and Springer got another ovation as he exited. He stopped outside the dugout to embrace teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who didn’t play in the finale.

Davis Schneider walked to begin the second and Valenzuela followed with his ninth home run and first since July 17.

Valenzuela connected off left-hander Brandon Williamson (5-5), who allowed four runs and four hits in three innings.

Reds center fielder Carlos Jorge lost his glove over the wall trying to make a play on Valenzuela’s 409-foot shot. The game was paused briefly while the glove was brought to a gate and returned to Jorge.

McAdoo homered off Carson Spiers in the eighth, his third.

Toronto drew 3,338,878 fans in 2026, up from 2,848,935 last season.

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