​Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn ImagesBlue Jays’ Max Scherzer reaches top 10 status with vintage form vs. Cardinals appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Toronto Blue Jays may have lost 5-1 on Sunday to the St. Louis Cardinals, but the team wasn’t without its bright spots. For starters, veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer looked good in just his second start since coming off the injured list. Scherzer managed to last six innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out five.Scherzer did throw 84 pitches, and this was a good audition as he looks like a trade candidate for a selling Blue Jays ballclub that has already accepted its fate. In fact, by recording five strikeouts on the night, Scherzer now has 3,512 strikeouts for his career, which now has him in 10th place on the all-time MLB strikeout rankings. He passed Walter Johnson in the process, as per his former teammate Alex Avila.2026 has not been a kind year whatsoever for Scherzer. Not only have the Blue Jays disappointed mightily, as they are likely going to miss the postseason after coming just short of a World Series title in 2025, Scherzer has also endured a ton of injury problems.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Scherzer missed significant time from the end of April towards the middle of June due to a forearm injury. And then after making one start in June, he missed another month due to back spasms and some thumb problems during rehab. But now, Scherzer looks to be very healthy, if his performance on Sunday is any indication.With the Blue Jays already having traded Kevin Gausman away, it becomes all the more likely for Scherzer to change teams. The door isn’t completely shut yet on a potential postseason run for Toronto in 2026, but their decision to deal Gausman away weakens the big-league club significantly.Any team looking for some more veteran leadership and back of the rotation solidity would do well to give the Blue Jays a call regarding a potential Scherzer trade.Related: Blue Jays share emotional farewell message after Kevin Gausman tradeRelated: Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer takes glass-half-full approach to trade deadline uncertainty