Max Scherzer reiterates he doesn’t plan to retire after wrapping 18th MLB season with World Series loss
The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again World Series champions after their Game 7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Miguel Rojas hit a game-tying home run in the ninth and Will Smith hit a home run in the 11th. Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the final eight outs a day after pitching six innings in Game 6. This earned him World Series MVP honors.
Before Los Angeles’ late-inning comeback, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer left the field to a standing ovation, having gone 4 ⅓ innings with just one run. This performance will ultimately remain in a footnote. After game 7, Scherzer, 41, reiterated that he has no immediate plans to retireand plans to continue launching in 2026.
“I think I’ll give a full answer on that later,” Scherzer said when asked about his retirement after Game 7. “But I will say this: I just don’t see how that was the last pitch I ever threw.”
This season marked Scherzer’s 18th in the majors, a legendary career that included two World Series rings, three Cy Young Awards and eight All-Star nominations.
Scherzer limped into the regular season, pitching to a 9.00 ERA with eight home runs allowed in 25 innings over his final six starts. He pitched well in the postseason, however, posting a 3.77 ERA in three starts. Scherzer isn’t going deep in games these days, but he can still be effective in the innings he does throw.
Pitching is still in demand, so if Scherzer wants to pitch in 2026, a team will surely offer him a contract, likely a suitor. He’s still a viable mid-to-back starter and he’s also a great presence in the clubhouse. For now, Scherzer and the Blue Jays will regroup after the Game 7 loss and figure out 2026 later.
