TORONTO — Blue Jays manager John Schneider was still celebrating a comeback victory in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series when three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer stopped by with a question: “When am I starting in the World Series?”
“I was like, ‘Max, I’m enjoying a beer, man,’” a smiling Schneider said before Game 2 on Saturday night. “He’s so regimented and wants to know what he’s doing.”
Scherzer knows now: He’ll get the ball for Toronto in Game 3 against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow when the World Series shifts to Southern California on Monday night with Toronto and Los Angeles tied at one game apiece. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani will start for the Dodgers in Game 4 against Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber.
The 41-year-old Scherzer called it “awesome” to get his fifth Series start.
“This is what you play for, to be able to get to this spot, to get to this moment, to have a shot at it,” Scherzer said. “You just think about, throughout your whole life, all the different things that have unfolded. Just so fortunate to have another crack at this. There’s so many great players that have never gotten to a World Series, so many great players where they only have one World Series.”
The fiery Scherzer was left off Toronto’s roster for the Division Series against the New York Yankees and has made just one start for the Blue Jays this postseason. He beat Seattle in Game 4 of the ALCS, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
That gave Scherzer his eighth career postseason win and first since his 2019 World Series victory with the Washington Nationals.
He also became the oldest pitcher to start a postseason game since Jamie Moyer, 45, for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series.
When Schneider made a mound visit in the fifth inning of that Oct. 16 game in Seattle, Scherzer told his skipper — in no uncertain terms — that he had no interest in coming out at that point. Schneider left Scherzer in the game.
Scherzer went 7-0 in 11 starts for the Dodgers in 2021 after being acquired at the trade deadline, and made a big impression on manager Dave Roberts.
“He’s one of one,” Roberts said. “Great competitor. Don’t want to touch him during outings, don’t want to pat him on the backside. Wants to be the guy. I really enjoyed managing a future Hall of Famer. He’s very smart. He’s a baseball player first, then a pitcher. It’s going to be a good test for us in Game 3.”
Glasnow has made two starts and one relief appearance for the Dodgers this October. He’s 0-0 with a 0.68 ERA, allowing one run in 13 1/3 innings.
Velocity rules in October: There have been a record 255 pitches of 100 mph or faster this postseason, up from 105 last year and the previous high of 169 in 2022.
Right-handed relievers averaged 96.2 mph with their four-seam fastballs through the World Series opener, an increase from 95.8 mph last postseason and 93.3 mph when the MLB started tracking in 2008.
“That’s crazy. That’s insane,” Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott said. “You see kids in college throwing 100 (mph) and a couple of years ago they were throwing what, 94, 95?”
Pitchers averaged a record 94.5 mph with four-seam fastballs during the 2025 regular season, a speedup from 91.9 mph in 2008. Among righties, this year’s average was 95 mph, including 95.6 mph by relievers.
Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman is averaging 96.4 mph with his four-seamer in October, up from 95.6 mph during the season.
“A lot of it is adrenaline and knowing that this is it. You’ve got to empty your tank every single night,” he said. “Velocity is king. I know there are a lot of kind of conflicting opinions on that, but it’s harder to hit faster pitches, so it’s important to have your best stuff.”
A study released by MLB last offseason concluded rising velocities, pitch shaping and emphasis on maximum effort are the likely causes of the vast increase in pitcher injuries.
Dodgers pitchers have averaged 96.2 mph with four-seamers in the postseason, up from 94.7 mph during the regular season, and Blue Jays pitchers 95.1 mph, an increase from 94 mph. Among righty relievers, Los Angeles is averaging 97.6 mph in October and Toronto 96.8 mph.
“These are the most significant pitches that anybody’s thrown all year,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. “A lot of it just happens to do with the pressure of these situations, and I think you see it across baseball in the playoffs. Everybody’s stuff ticks up, for the most part. It seems like their stuff is at a different level.”
Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen said particular playoff environments can lead to faster pitches.
“When you go to places like the Padres last year, you just feel the hate, so you’re trying to counter with an ability to keep quiet,” he said. “The more you get deeper into the playoffs, the more you are just competing with - it’s energy. At this point in the World Series you are trying to empty the tank.”
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