What happened: Max Scherzer completed seven innings of work on Sunday, waving off his manager to stay in the contest. The veteran eventually walked off the mound to a massive standing ovation and a hug from John Schneider.
Why it matters: The pitcher has not yet announced if he will return for the 2027 season. He maintained his intense demeanor throughout his final appearance of the year, reportedly telling the dugout he felt great as teammates erupted in cheers.
By the numbers: The performance allowed Scherzer to add to his milestone totals, after entering the day trailing Justin Verlander by four for eighth place on the all-time strikeout list. He finishes the campaign with a 6.14 ERA across 17 starts.
What to watch: The baseball world awaits a formal announcement on his playing future.