The Toronto Blue Jays closed out Sunday, September 27, 2026 with a commanding 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre, getting seven dominant innings from Max Scherzer and back-to-back home runs from Charles McAdoo and Brandon Valenzuela. Scherzer struck out seven and allowed just one run on six hits, giving the bullpen a clean path to the finish line. The four-run margin tells the story cleanly: Toronto controlled this one from the jump and never let Cincinnati get comfortable.

Max Scherzer Controls the Game with Seven Innings of Work

Scherzer was the engine that drove this win. Working through seven innings, he allowed six hits, issued just one walk, and punched out seven Reds hitters while giving up only a single earned run. Brandon Williamson, working for Cincinnati, couldn't match that kind of efficiency — the left-hander lasted just three innings, surrendering four earned runs on four hits and three walks before the Reds bullpen had to scramble to cover six more frames.

With that performance, Scherzer picks up the win. Williamson absorbs the loss.

McAdoo and Valenzuela Provide the Power in Toronto's Lineup

The offense did its part with authority. Charles McAdoo went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the Jays a cushion that Scherzer made good use of. Brandon Valenzuela was equally productive, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI of his own. Between them, those two bats accounted for four of Toronto's five runs.

Brett Bateman added some quality contact at the top of the lineup, going 2-for-4, though he didn't factor into the scoring. Still, a two-hit game keeps pressure on opposing pitchers and helps the lineup turn over.

Key Hitting Performances — Toronto Blue Jays

  • Charles McAdoo: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Brandon Valenzuela: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Brett Bateman: 2-for-4

Bullpen Finishes Clean with Two Scoreless Innings

After Scherzer handed the ball off, Mason Fluharty handled the eighth inning without allowing a hit, a walk, or a run — a textbook bridge appearance. Paul Sewald closed it out in the ninth, permitting one hit but no runs to secure the final 5-1 margin.

Cincinnati's offense had scattered moments. Carlos Jorge went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and both JJ Bleday and Oswaldo Cabrera collected two hits apiece. But none of that production translated into runs against Scherzer's control, and the Reds were held to a single tally all afternoon.

Key Hitting Performances — Cincinnati Reds

  • Carlos Jorge: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • JJ Bleday: 2-for-4
  • Oswaldo Cabrera: 2-for-2

Turning Point: The Early Innings Against Williamson

The game turned quickly on Williamson's inability to find the strike zone and limit damage. Giving up four earned runs in three innings while walking three batters created a deficit the Reds never genuinely threatened to overcome. Once Scherzer had a lead to protect, he was efficient and sharp — exactly what the Blue Jays needed.

What's Next for the Blue Jays

Toronto takes this 5-1 win into the final stretch of the 2026 regular season. The Jays showed Sunday that when Scherzer is dealing and the lineup's power bats connect, this is a difficult team to beat at Rogers Centre. The next series will tell us more about where this club stands heading into the final days of the regular season.