The Toronto Blue Jays return to Rogers Centre on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for a 3:07 PM ET matchup against the Detroit Tigers in regular season action. Max Scherzer gets the nod for Toronto, squaring off against Detroit's Keider Montero in what shapes up as an intriguing late-season pitching duel. With the Blue Jays sending out a lineup anchored by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, the home side will be looking to take care of business in front of the Rogers Centre faithful. Coverage is on Sportsnet and SN590 THE FAN.

Pitching Matchup: Max Scherzer vs. Keider Montero

Scherzer on the mound is always an event. The veteran right-hander brings a long track record of excellence and the kind of competitive intensity that sets the tone for the entire ballclub. His presence in the rotation gives Toronto a meaningful edge whenever he takes the ball, regardless of the situation. How deep he can go and how his stuff is working early will be the primary story to track Wednesday afternoon.

Opposing him is Keider Montero, a young arm the Tigers have been developing. Montero has flashed enough to earn his spot at the big-league level, and he'll be tested against a Toronto lineup that can punish any mistakes. Watch how the Blue Jays' hitters approach him early — getting into the Tigers' bullpen before the middle innings would be a significant advantage for Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup

• 1. Brett Bateman — CF
• 2. Nathan Lukes — RF
• 3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — 1B
• 4. George Springer — DH
• 5. Kazuma Okamoto — 3B
• 6. Josh Smith — 2B
• 7. Ernie Clement — SS
• 8. Brandon Valenzuela — C
• 9. Myles Straw — LF

Keys to Watch

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the Middle of Everything

Guerrero Jr. hitting third remains the beating heart of this offense. The Tigers will have to make tough decisions every time he comes to the plate with runners on base. How Detroit pitches around or to him will shape the entire middle innings of this game.

Scherzer's Command and Pitch Count

Scherzer's value is maximized when his command is sharp and he can work deep into games. If he's locating his fastball and mixing his secondary pitches effectively, the Tigers will have a very long afternoon. Any early command issues, however, could put pressure on the Toronto bullpen.

Brett Bateman Setting the Table

Leading off in center field, Bateman's job is simple: get on base and make life uncomfortable for Montero from the very first pitch. His at-bat in the first inning could set the tone for what the Blue Jays do offensively all afternoon.

Prediction

Scherzer against a relatively inexperienced starter, at home, with Guerrero Jr. and Springer in the lineup — this is a favorable setup for Toronto. The Blue Jays take this one, with Scherzer delivering a quality start and the offense doing enough damage against Montero in the middle frames to pull away. Blue Jays win, 5–2.