Max Scherzer ‘reprimanded’ John Schneider over travel decision

After losing the first two games to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Toronto Blue Jays put up eight runs in the first inning to win 10-4 on Sunday. Thus, they came out of a three-game series with something to smile about. However, those losses paled in comparison to what happened next.

On their way from Phoenix to Anaheim, California, to play the Angels, their plane suffered mechanical problems. As a result, Blue Jays manager John Schnieder and the players chose to travel by bus rather than wait for another plane. Nevertheless, that decision didn’t really please pitcher Max Scherzer, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.

Schnieder said he was “reprimanded” by Scherzer and is due to appear in “court” soon.

“We’re going to go to trial,” Schneider said.

On Monday, the Blue Jays will begin a three-game series against the Angels. Currently, the defending American League champions are off to an 8-13 start. Lately, their lineup hasn’t been hitting the ball much.

Meanwhile, Scherzer is off to a 1-2 start with 10 strikeouts and a 7.16 ERA. Last Saturday, Scherzer pitched six innings and gave up a walk, five hits, and two earned runs in a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. In the process, Scherzer only had one strikeout.

Going into the season, Toronto was riding high, coming off a win in the AL pennant last fall and enduring a grueling, yet exciting, seven-game World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Schneider has been the Toronto manager since October 2022. Before that, he had been the interim manager following Charlie Montoyo’s departure.