TORONTO – In a pivotal moment during the sixth inning, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider approached the mound as Max Scherzer reached 77 pitches with two runners on and one out. Rather than pulling Scherzer, Schneider listened to the seasoned 42-year-old right-hander, who persuaded him he could navigate the tricky situation. Scherzer succeeded, retiring Ivan Herrera, and exited the Rogers Centre to enthusiastic applause from the crowd of 41,321 after delivering six innings with just one run allowed, despite the Blue Jays ultimately falling 5-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Scherzer recounted the exchange, explaining, “He just wanted to know where I was at. We had talked about pre-game where the finish line was and I said, ‘Let me see what we’ve got against (Ivan) Herrera,’ and then after Herrera flew out, I looked in the dugout and said, ‘I can finish it.’”
The loss marked a disappointing conclusion to the Blue Jays' performance ahead of the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Monday, as the team slipped to a record of 52-60. They now head to Houston for a three-game series against the Astros. In anticipation of possible roster changes, Toronto recently acquired right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon from the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Taillon, who has Canadian heritage and previously played for the national team, is expected to join the team in Houston.
As the front office weighed options for both selling and buying players, there remained hope for the Blue Jays, who were still within striking distance of the final wild-card spot despite being eight games below .500, contingent on the outcomes of games played by Cleveland and Minnesota. Manager Schneider noted, “As far as I know, everyone’s getting on the plane. We’ll see in 24 hours what shakes out, if anything.”
Scherzer expressed the frustration felt by players regarding the team's struggles, leading to potential roster decisions. “Look, we’re in this position because as players, we have not performed to our capabilities, and now the front office might have to make decisions about the roster because of that,” he stated. He further added, “If they sell, that’s on us as players, that we have not done our job of holding up on our end of the bargain and winning ballgames.”
Despite the challenges, Scherzer remained optimistic, acknowledging the support from fans and the team’s proximity to the postseason: “If they hold and don’t sell, great. We’re getting 40,000 fans a night. We want to go out there and play. We’re only a few games out of this wild card and anything can happen. You just want that opportunity to go out and compete to win.”
The trade market heated up following the Los Angeles Dodgers' acquisition of pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers, which prompted activity among other teams. The New York Mets soon traded Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays, showcasing the competitive pitching market, heightening speculation around how valued rentals like Kevin Gausman could be.
Further stirring intrigue, George Springer made just his second start in left field this season—an indication that the Blue Jays may be highlighting him for potential trades. Manager Schneider had previously indicated that he would use Springer against left-handed pitchers, suggesting the timing of this move was purposeful. Springer expressed his affection for the team, stating, “I love this team, I love this organization, and as far as I know, I am here.”
Although limited in number of plays, Springer managed to create a scoring opportunity with a triple in the seventh, setting the stage for an equalizer from Luis Urias in the eighth that tied the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays faltered in the ninth, allowing the Cardinals to capitalize on three unearned runs due to an error, further emphasizing the depth of their struggles and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming trade deadline.
Schneider concluded the day's events by promising competitiveness, stating, “No matter what happens over the next 24 hours, we’re going to come here and compete and try to win. Whoever that’s with is whoever that’s with. It’s a hypothetical world until (Monday) at 6 p.m. Eastern. I think things are trending in the right direction. Our job is to keep pushing forward.”
