Not the first time, probably not the last...
Even when Max Scherzer isn’t pitching, he finds a way to stir the pot.
On Friday night, during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-3 win over the Guardians, Scherzer, currently on the injured list with right thumb inflammation, was spotted in the dugout mocking veteran umpire CB Bucknor by miming a coin toss. The moment, captured on camera during the top of the fifth inning, quickly spread online.
The message was unmistakable: Scherzer, watching Chris Bassitt work a tight 2-2 game, seemed to suggest that Bucknor was essentially flipping a coin to determine balls and strikes. The two-time World Series champion didn’t say a word, but the sarcastic motion said it all. For Scherzer, this wasn’t just a random jab, it was also personal history on display. In the same game, Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez exited early due to an injury.
Scherzer’s disdain for inconsistent umpiring is well-documented. Across his 17-year career, the 40-year-old, eight-time All-Star has never shied away from confrontation, whether over pitch clocks, sticky substance checks, or questionable strike zones. And Bucknor? He’s long been one of the most polarizing figures behind the plate, often ranked among the worst umpires in league-wide player polls.
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Put them in the same ballpark, even if Scherzer’s not on the mound, and tension is inevitable. Their most infamous clash came back in 2015, when Bucknor made a crucial fair/foul call, without actually seeing the play, that cost Scherzer a walk-off loss. Max Scherzer clearly hasn’t forgotten that moment.
This isn’t Scherzer’s first umpire-directed outburst in street clothes, either. Just last month, he was caught on camera yelling from the dugout after a video review didn’t go the Jays’ way. He may be sidelined, but he’s still all-in.
For now, though, the right-hander seems close to returning. Scherzer, who signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with Toronto in February, has made just one start this season, back on March 29, before landing on the IL. He recently threw what was described as a “heavy bullpen session,” an encouraging step in his recovery.
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