Max Scherzer wishes Justin Verlander well, leaves door open for 2027 return

Scherzer, the 42-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner, told reporters in Toronto that he will put off a decision on whether he will pitch in 2028 until the offseason. He plans to make one more appearance, on three days' rest, with the Blue Jays in their season finale Sunday, Sept. 27 at Rogers Centre. Scherzer said he wanted to ensure his wife and children got to see him pitch one more time, regardless of future plans.

Scherzer is a 224-game winner who ranks ninth on Major League Baseball's all-time strikeout list with 3,550 career punchouts. Like his longtime Detroit Tigers teammate, 43-year-old Justin Verlander , Scherzer is a lock for induction into baseball's Hall of Fame.

Verlander, a 266-game winner, ranks eighth on the strikeout list with 3,554 strikeouts; he is pitching in the final game of his career Saturday at Detroit's Comerica Park. It is just his second start of the season after myriad injuries.