Yankees spoil Max Scherzer's return, beating the Blue Jays 6-3 on June 30. Despite a Bo Bichette homer, an Aaron Judge blast sealed Toronto's fate.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The buzz at Rogers Centre was electric for Max Scherzer's long-awaited return, but the New York Yankees played the role of spoiler, tagging the veteran ace in a 6-3 Blue Jays loss. While Bo Bichette continued his hot hitting, the Jays' offense couldn't overcome a strong outing from Carlos Rodón, dropping a crucial game that pushes them four games back in the American League East.
'Max is still working his way back. We saw some good signs, but he left a few pitches up.' - Manager John Schneider
All eyes were on Max Scherzer, making his first start in two months after a frustrating shoulder injury. The results were a mixed bag. The three-time Cy Young winner battled through 4.2 innings, but his command wasn't sharp. He surrendered 7 hits and 5 earned runs, including a decisive two-run homer to Aaron Judge in the third inning. His velocity was reportedly down a tick, and as Manager John Schneider noted, he left too many pitches over the plate. While it's a concerning line score, the team remains hopeful that this was just the first step in shaking off the rust. Scherzer is expected to remain in the rotation, and fans will be watching his next start closely for signs of progress.
If there was a bright spot for the Toronto offense, it was once again Bo Bichette. He continued to swing a hot bat, launching a solo home run and adding a double. Alejandro Kirk also chipped in with an RBI single. Unfortunately, that was most of the noise they could muster against Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, who was dominant over six innings, striking out eight. The Jays couldn't string together enough hits to mount a serious threat, a recurring theme they need to solve. Bichette summed up the mood on Instagram post-game: 'Tough loss, but we keep grinding.'
Despite the loss, the Blue Jays bullpen provided a reason for optimism. The relief corps, which has seen its share of shuffling with the recent recall of Justin Bruihl and placement of Paxton Schultz on the IL, combined for 4.1 innings of one-run ball. Trevor Richards was particularly sharp with two scoreless frames. This continues a promising trend for a unit that has been a quiet strength. Even better news is on the horizon: Daulton Varsho, a force with both his power bat and Gold Glove-caliber defense, is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week. 'We're excited to get Daulton back,' Schneider said. 'His power and defense are a big part of our team.' His return could be the jolt this lineup desperately needs.
It was a tough pill to swallow, losing a key divisional game on a night filled with anticipation. But the season is a marathon, not a sprint. The key takeaways are that Scherzer is back on the mound, the bullpen is holding its own, and a major power bat in Daulton Varsho is just around the corner. The Jays will need to shake this one off quickly and find a way to take the series from the Yankees to prevent the gap in the AL East from widening further.
