The Toronto Blue Jays host the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 3:07 PM ET. Max Scherzer gets the ball for Toronto against Detroit's Keider Montero in a regular-season matchup that carries genuine late-September weight. With the calendar winding down, every game in the standings matters, and the Jays are playing in front of their home crowd with one of the most experienced arms in baseball leading the charge. Catch the action on Sportsnet or SN590 THE FAN.
Probable Starters: Scherzer vs. Montero
Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Blue Jays. There are few pitchers in the game who bring more competitive fire to a September start than Scherzer, and Toronto will lean on that experience heavily here. Regardless of where his numbers sit at this point in the season, his presence in a meaningful late-season game is not something opponents take lightly. The Rogers Centre crowd should give him a proper welcome.
Detroit counters with Keider Montero, the right-hander who has been working to establish himself in the Tigers' rotation. Montero is still building his resume at the big-league level, and facing a Toronto lineup at home in September is a genuine test. How he handles pressure situations and works through the order multiple times will be the defining question of his afternoon.
Keys to Watch for the Blue Jays
- Making Montero work early: Toronto's lineup needs to be disciplined and force Montero into deep counts. Get him out of the game early and put pressure on the Detroit bullpen.
- Scherzer's command: Watch how Scherzer sequences his pitches and manages his stuff as the game progresses. His ability to read a lineup and adjust is what separates him from most starters, and that chess match is worth tracking inning by inning.
- Situational hitting: September baseball often comes down to runners in scoring position. The Jays need to cash in when the opportunities are there rather than strand baserunners and hand momentum back to Detroit.
- Bullpen management: If Scherzer exits before the seventh, how Toronto's pitching staff bridges to the back end will be critical. Late-inning leads can evaporate fast if the setup roles aren't locked in.
Game Prediction
Scherzer vs. a younger, less-tested starter at home is a matchup that favors the Blue Jays on paper. Toronto should be able to generate enough offense against Montero to build a lead, and Scherzer's experience in big moments gives the Jays a steadying presence at the top of the lineup card. Expect a competitive first few innings as Montero settles in, but Toronto's home advantage and the pitching edge should be enough to get the win. Blue Jays 5, Tigers 3.
