Max Scherzer's last start offered hilariously characteristic juxtaposition with Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander told reporters both before and after his last start with the Tigers that he wasn't interested in going about this one as business as usual. He shed the headphones and the tough exterior, and made a point to talk to his teammates — and not just his catcher for the day. He credited his daughter Genevieve as being the person who made him want to pitch out of a place of love, instead of anger.

That isn't the version of Verlander fans were used to seeing when he was at his prime, the version that, by his own admission, could tend to make him a bad teammate. But it was a refreshing change, and seeing his formerly steely exterior melt throughout the weekend, and especially when his daughter accompanied him during his departure, had everyone in tatters.

Verlander might've been willing to let go of that part of himself, but his former teammate Max Scherzer wasn't.

Though he hasn't officially announced his retirement yet, Scherzer pitched what most expect to be his last major league start on Sunday. He and Blue Jays manager John Schneider treated fans to one last spectacle. Schneider came out to pull him in the seventh with two outs, and Scherzer sent him right back to the dugout.

Former Tiger Max Scherzer offered fans one last spectacle by refusing to come off the mound

Scherzer's final line in maybe his last game was a good one: seven innings, six hits, one earned run, one walk, seven strikeouts. He acquiesced to Schneider in the eighth, with a man on first. This time, Scherzer seemed almost happy to give up the ball after a long talk on the mound, hugs to go around, and a hat tip and standing ovation for a guy who might go into the Hall of Fame alongside his longtime rival.

No doubt Scherzer would've gotten more fanfare had he announced his retirement as early as Verlander, but this was a fitting way for the ever-fiery Mad Max to go out. He and Verlander were fire and ice as early as their years together in Detroit. (And the memes riffing on what Scherzer might do if the Blue Jays tried to give him the same send-off as Verlander were kind of incredible).

Scherzer remains three strikeouts shy of Verlander on the career leaderboards, so fans wouldn't be surprised at all if he came back for league minimum in 2027, just to match or pass him. Although Tigers fans would certainly prefer to see Verlander's record stand, it would be a hilariously petty and characteristic thing to witness.

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