Vintage Max Scherzer Dominates in Rehab Start as Bisons Blank Red Wings Early in 9-2 Victory
Written by Pete Zehler on July 22, 2026
BUFFALO, N.Y. — If there were any questions about whether Max Scherzer still has the ability to overpower hitters, the future Hall of Famer answered them emphatically Wednesday afternoon.
Making his first rehab appearance since receiving three cortisone injections in his thumb before the All-Star break, the three-time Cy Young Award winner looked every bit like the pitcher who has built a Cooperstown résumé. Scherzer struck out seven over five hitless innings as the Buffalo Bisons rolled to a 9-2 victory over the Rochester Red Wings before a solid Wednesday afternoon crowd at Sahlen Field.
On an overcast 75-degree day, Scherzer needed just 56 pitches to carve through Rochester’s lineup. The only batter to reach base against him came in the third inning when Cayden Wallace reached on a throwing error by shortstop Josh Kasevich. Scherzer did not issue a walk and retired 15 of the 16 hitters he faced.
The outing was a dramatic turnaround from his previous rehab start on July 8, when he surrendered five runs over four innings. It also marked his first appearance since thumb issues forced him to receive cortisone shots and skip a scheduled rehab outing.
Scherzer has not pitched for Toronto since June 10 after landing on the injured list with back spasms. The veteran right-hander has battled multiple injuries this season and owns a 10.23 ERA in six starts with the Blue Jays.
After the game, Scherzer downplayed any urgency to rush back to Toronto despite the club’s struggles in the starting rotation.
“I can’t make the team win,” Scherzer said, emphasizing that his focus remains on returning only when he’s fully healthy.
While Scherzer stole the spotlight, Buffalo’s offense provided him with more than enough support.
After Rochester starter Konnor Pilkington tossed a scoreless first inning, the Bisons broke the game open against reliever Robert Cranz in the second.
Willie MacIver reached on an error before Eloy Jiménez drew a walk. Josh Rivera and William Simoneit followed with strikeouts, but Daz Cameron worked another full-count walk to load the bases. Josh Kasevich delivered the breakthrough with a two-run double off the wall in left, ending Cranz’s afternoon.
Jay Harry welcomed reliever Zach Penrod by ripping a two-run double down the right-field line, giving Buffalo a commanding 4-0 advantage.
The Bisons continued to pile on in the third when Davis Schneider launched a solo home run to left-center, extending the lead to 5-0.
An inning later, Cameron tripled into the left-center gap and scored on Jay Harry’s deep sacrifice fly to make it 6-0.
Buffalo added three more runs in the fifth. William Simoneit drove in a run with a single before a wild pitch allowed two more runs to score, stretching the lead to 9-0.
Scherzer exited after the fifth inning to a loud ovation, handing the game over to Buffalo’s bullpen with a no-hitter intact.
Sam Gardner worked around a walk and a hit batter in the sixth before Brady House ended the combined no-hit bid with a solo home run to right field in the seventh off Gardner, Rochester’s first hit of the afternoon.
The Red Wings added one more run in the ninth when Phillip Glasser doubled and eventually scored on an Abimelec Ortiz groundout, but Tanner Andrews struck out Brady House to end the game.
Davis Schneider finished with a home run and reached base four times. Kasevich drove in two with his second-inning double, while Jay Harry added two RBIs and Daz Cameron reached base three times, scored twice and tripled.
Buffalo improved behind a complete team effort, but Wednesday belonged to Scherzer.
For five innings, one of baseball’s greatest pitchers looked like himself again.
