Jays Watch: Scherzer, Giménez launch Toronto back into ALCS

Welcome to Jays Watch, where we'll have you covered throughout the Toronto Blue Jays' postseason run. Here are our takeaways from the Blue Jays' 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in Thursday's ALCS Game 4.

Vintage Scherzer shines

That performance from Max Scherzer was befitting of a future Hall of Famer.

The 41-year-old took the ball for the Blue Jays in a pivotal Game 4 having not started since Sept. 24. They expressed confidence in Scherzer heading into the start, but you have to imagine his performance Thursday exceeded their greatest expectations.

Scherzer's long layoff seemed to rejuvenate him. He topped out at 96.5 mph in the first inning - his fastest pitch of the season.

Despite the velocity, Scherzer struggled with his command in the opening frame, walking back-to-back hitters. Things could have been teetering on the brink if not for one small moment.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gestured to Scherzer, indicating that the Mariners had his pitches - a problem Scherzer's dealt with throughout the year. Following that exchange, Scherzer induced an inning-ending double play. It was the first time in six starts that he didn't allow a run in the first inning. It's not an exaggeration to say that quick reset might have saved the Blue Jays' season.

The moment of the night came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Manager John Schneider came to the mound for a wellness check and was greeted with enough fire that he opted to make his way back into the dugout. Scherzer rewarded his manager by striking out Randy Arozarena to end the inning.

Scherzer came out for the sixth and finished his night having allowed two earned runs on five hits with four walks while striking out five over 5 2/3 innings.

Few players in professional sports have an aura that makes their coworkers happy to get chewed out.

"I thought he was gonna kill me," Schneider said postgame. "It was great."

This wasn't the most dominant start of Scherzer's incredible career, but because of the circumstances, it ranks as one of his most impressive.

Jays' bottom of the order changes game again

Andrés Giménez is altering the narrative of his season with some big swings in the ALCS.

For a second straight night, the No. 9 hitter clubbed a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Blue Jays a lead. He finished the night 2-for-3 with a team-leading four RBIs.

Giménez hadn't homered in his first 23 career playoff games before going deep on back-to-back nights in Seattle.

Giménez's deservedly received criticism at times this season for his limited offensive production, but he deserves a lot of credit for his strong defensive play. His ability to shift over to shortstop following the injury to Bo Bichette has given the Blue Jays stability at a time when Bichette's absence really could have derailed them.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who hit one spot in front of Giménez in Game 4, also made a major impact. He entered the night 5-for-13 for his career off Mariners starter Luis Castillo. Kiner-Falefa doubled off him in the third inning to get on base ahead of the Giménez homer.

Kiner-Falefa then worked an eight-pitch at-bat for a single in the fourth inning. He and Giménez both recorded sac bunts later in the game, and they combined to score three runs.

Every player has a role to play and value to provide in Toronto's lineup. Little things can become big things in the playoffs, and when you do the little things right, you win games. The Blue Jays likely don't tie this series without the contributions from those two in Game 4.

So much for Seattle's pitching advantage

The Mariners seemed to have the upper hand in terms of starting pitching as the series moved to Seattle, but George Kirby and Castillo combined to allow 11 runs and throw just 6 1/3 innings in Games 3 and 4.

The hook on Castillo was especially quick in Game 4, as Dan Wilson managed the game with the type of urgency you might see from a team trailing in the series as opposed to leading. Castillo was replaced by Gabe Speier in the third inning after he surrendered the two-run homer and then loaded the bases. It was Castillo's fewest pitches in a start since 2018.

Wilson used a number of his high-leverage bullpen arms throughout the game in an effort to keep things close, with Matt Brash and Eduard Bazardo coming in despite the team trailing.

Expect to see Bryan Woo and Andrés Muñoz in Game 5 behind Bryce Miller.

The Mariners made two decisions that will likely be second-guessed heading into Game 5. First, Wilson kept the left-hander Speier in to face George Springer in the fourth inning. Springer ripped an RBI double to make it 4-1. Two innings later, Josh Naylor, who's had a great series, was inexplicably thrown out at third base to end the sixth, killing the rally and essentially any chance for the Mariners to get back into the game.

"Sometimes when we're aggressive, it can backfire," Wilson said of Naylor.

After heading home with a chance to clinch the series, Seattle is now trying to hold off the franchise's playoff demons, while Toronto seems to be in the stronger position from a pitching perspective.

Guerrero does it again

It feels like Guerrero's name is in these takeaways every night, but it's impossible not to acknowledge what's been a phenomenal postseason for a player who really needed to break out.

Guerrero went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the sixth inning - his fifth homer of the postseason and second in as many games. That blast also came after the Mariners had just scored to make it a three-run game.

Guerrero now leads the postseason in hits, home runs, RBIs, and OPS. He has one strikeout in 33 at-bats. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani and Julio Rodríguez have each struck out 17 times this postseason.

Home-field disadvantage?

It's hard to believe these are the same teams that played the first two games of this series at Rogers Centre.

Seattle outscored the Blue Jays 13-4 in Toronto. The Mariners have been outscored 21-6 since returning to T-Mobile Park.

Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Rodríguez, and Jorge Polanco combined to go 0-for-13 with six strikeouts in Game 4.

The home team in this series is 0-4 with a minus-24 run differential, despite the Blue Jays (54 wins) and Mariners (51) having the two best regular-season home records in the AL.

The Blue Jays recaptured home-field advantage and guaranteed a Game 6 at Rogers Centre. But is that even a good thing at this point?

Barger's defense shines in Santander's absence

Anthony Santander's set to miss the remainder of the postseason after being removed from the ALCS roster with a back injury. It's a miserable end to his difficult first season in Toronto, but his absence in Game 4 opened the door for Addison Barger to move back into right field.

Barger, appearing in the outfield for the first time since Sept. 17, made a pair of impact defensive plays that Santander likely wouldn't have. Barger nailed Naylor at third base for the final out in the sixth inning and followed that up with a diving catch to end the seventh.

Barger is showing signs of heating up offensively after a cold stretch, homering in Game 3 and adding a double in Game 4. His ability to play both in right field and at third base gives Schneider a lot of options. While losing Santander's power potential in the lineup could hurt the Blue Jays if they reach the World Series, the roster is more functional as currently constructed without him.