Max Scherzer Faces Jake Bennett as Boston Red Sox Visit Wednesday

Max Scherzer gets the ball for the boston red sox on Wednesday, June 17, in the middle game of a three-game set against Toronto after the Blue Jays beat Boston 5-1 on Tuesday night. The matchup pits a veteran starter who has not gone deep this season against a rookie with limited recent starting experience.

Blue Jays Carry 5-1 Win

Toronto enters the game with a 5-4 record over its last nine games, while Boston has won two of its last eight. That makes the series opener more than a one-night result; it set the tone for a meeting between two teams trying to stabilize recent form in the same division.

Scherzer faces Jake Bennett in the pitching matchup, and the age gap is striking: Bennett was seven years old when Scherzer made his MLB debut in 2008. The Red Sox are listed at -131 in the betting market, but the real pressure point is how long either starter can stay in the game before the bullpens take over.

Scherzer's Short Outings

Length has been a problem for Scherzer all season. He has made it through more than 3.1 innings in only two starts this season, and he threw 82 pitches in each of his last two outings.

Those recent starts produced one outing with 10 outs and another with 7 outs. He also returned from the injured list last week and allowed five runs on five hits, including two home runs, in 3.1 innings against the Phillies.

Bennett's First Start Back

Bennett comes in after allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings against the Rays last time out. That was his first start in over a month, so Toronto is seeing a pitcher who has only recently returned to a regular starting role.

For Boston, the immediate task is simple: get a cleaner start from Scherzer and avoid another quick trip into the bullpen after Tuesday’s 5-1 loss. For Toronto, another solid turn would turn the division series into a chance to keep building on a 5-4 run without letting Boston reset the tone.