A legend will take the hill for the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Max Scherzer is set to start the opener of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT), manager John Schneider announced.
The plan for Game 2 (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT) is still to be determined, per Schneider.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not in the starting lineup as he's set to miss a second straight game after leaving Sunday's tilt against the Texas Rangers with back soreness. He could be available for the nightcap, Schneider said.
Left-handed Sean Keys will get the start at first base in Guerrero's absence and hit fifth.
Emergent centre fielder Brett Bateman is also missing from the starting nine after injuring his hip on a sliding catch in Monday's game against the Orioles. Toronto's outfield will instead feature Myles Straw in centre and Josh Smith in left while right fielder Nathan Lukes bats lead-off.
Bateman had an MRI come back clean on the injury, per Schneider, with only inflammation and no structural damage. The Blue Jays will wait to see how he feels after Wednesday to determine whether he will take part in the season-finale series against the Cincinnati Reds beginning Friday.
Toronto's post-season hopes are all but extinguished as the reigning AL champion enters action Wednesday needing to win out while either the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians lose out in order to play into October.
Scherzer, 42, like many Blue Jays pitchers, has endured an injury-riddled season, making just 16 starts with a 6.07 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 72.2 innings.
There were flashes of prime Scherzer wedged in — highlighted by a seven-inning, 10-strikeout performance against the Seattle Mariners in August — but the future Hall of Famer mostly struggled in his second season north of the border.
Scherzer will work the mound opposite good friend and ex-teammate Chris Bassitt, who carries a 4.64 ERA over 19 starts in his first season in Baltimore.
Like the Blue Jays, the Orioles would be eliminated from playoff contention with one loss, meaning both squads could see their hopes vanish Wednesday.
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