Aaron Nola gives Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer props after 7th career showdown

Aaron Nola has gone up against Max Scherzer more times than almost any other pitcher in the game today, and he still marvels at what he sees on the mound. The Phillies right-hander faced off against Scherzer and the Blue Jays on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, marking the seventh time the two have squared off in their careers.

Asked about the challenge of pitching opposite a future Hall of Famer yet again, Nola did not hold back his admiration.

“It’s a challenge for sure. It’s a long time and he’s still so good,” Nola told reporters after the game. “I’ve seen him so much, and it’s so good to watch him go out there. He’s an ultimate competitor, and obviously he’s a Hall of Famer, no doubt. It’s pretty awesome watching him still pitch really well for his age.”

Aaron Nola on the challenge of pitching against Max Scherzer, which he’s now done seven times. pic.twitter.com/uMz5tnIOAz

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Nola summed up his respect for the 41-year-old in simple terms. “Yeah, he’s a stud,” he said.

The matchup delivered exactly the kind of drama their history suggested it might.

Toronto walked away with a wild 7-5 win in 11 innings, with Nathan Lukes breaking a tie with a two-run homer in the extra frame. Both pitchers made history in the same game. Scherzer struck out five to pass Walter Johnson for 10th place on the all-time strikeout list, while Nola punched out Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela to reach a career milestone of his own, prompting a brief pause in play for the crowd to honor him.

Nola’s night ended on a scary note. He exited in the sixth inning after taking a line drive off his right knee, kneeling on the mound before eventually walking off under his own power. He told reporters afterward he expects to make his next scheduled start.

For five innings, Scherzer completely stifled Philadelphia’s lineup, continuing the Phillies’ pattern of giving him little run support over the years. The Phillies finally broke through in the sixth when Trea Turner and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game.

But the bullpen could not hold the line late, and Toronto’s offense delivered the decisive blow in extras to salt away the win.

The matchup carried extra weight given how differently the two have performed against each other’s franchises over the years.

Nola entered the day 2-3 with a 5.45 ERA in his career against the Blue Jays, while Scherzer has historically dominated the Phillies, sitting at 18-6 with a 2.76 ERA in 32 career appearances against Philadelphia, though he was tagged for five runs in just 3.1 innings the last time the two teams met in June.

The result extended Toronto’s mastery over Philadelphia in this particular pitching duel, with Scherzer now holding a commanding career edge in a rivalry both pitchers clearly still relish, even as questions linger about how many more chapters are left to write between the two future Hall of Famers.

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