Max Scherzer comes off IL as Blue Jays eke past Nationals

Field Level Media|published: Mon 27th July, 22:02 2026

Jul 27, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Mason Fluharty (68) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Luis Urias homered, Myles Straw had two hits and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Nationals 3-2 on Monday in Max Scherzer's return to Washington.

Scherzer, who spent 6 1/2 seasons in Washington and won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, came off the injured list to make his seventh start of the season. He gave up a run on four hits, walking three and striking out four on 75 pitches in 2 2/3 innings.

Mason Fluharty (5-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Louis Varland, the last of six Toronto relievers, pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.

The Blue Jays have alternated losses and wins for six games.

Andres Chaparro homered for the Nationals, who had won two straight.

Nationals opener Eddy Yean (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. He didn't issue a walk nor fan a batter.

Scherzer, making his 100th start at Nationals Park and working on his 42nd birthday, had been sidelined due to back and thumb issues. He pitched in and out of trouble in the first inning.

James Wood led off with a single and stole second, and Luis Garcia Jr. singled him to third. Jose Tena struck out before CJ Abrams walked to load the bases. Scherzer struck out Dylan Crews, and Daylen Lile grounded out.

Nasim Nunez singled with one out in the Washington second and stole second. Wood walked and Garcia doubled off the wall in right, scoring Nunez to give Washington a 1-0 lead.

Urias tied it 1-1 with a solo homer in the third, and Straw and Ernie Clement followed with back-to-back doubles to make it 2-1 Blue Jays.

Scherzer left after striking out Lile to end a 12-pitch at-bat in the third. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and he waved as he entered the dugout.

In the fourth, Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto singled, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Straw to make it 3-1.

With runners on first and third and two outs in the top of the fifth, George Springer got in a rundown between first and second. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke for home but was tagged out on a close play.

Chaparro's pinch-hit homer made it 3-2 in the fifth.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Nunez singled and Wood walked, but Varland fanned Garcia to end the game.

--Field Level Media

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