CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Max Scherzer had a vintage performance in his first spring training outing for the Toronto Blue Jays, with the 41-year-old throwing four no-hit innings in a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner signed a $3 million, one-year contract in February and is entering his 19th big league season. He can earn another $10 million in performance bonuses.
Scherzer needed just 40 pitches to navigate his four innings on Saturday, throwing 29 strikes. He struck out one and walked one.
The eight-time All-Star was 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA over 17 starts for the Blue Jays last season before being a key contributor during the postseason. The veteran right-hander gave up one run over 4 1/3 innings in Game 7 of the World Series, which the Dodgers eventually won 5-4 in an 11-inning classic.
Scherzer has won two World Series titles, with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. The eight-time All-Star is 221-117 with a 3.22 ERA for the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Rangers and Blue Jays.
He ranks 11th on the career list with 3,489 strikeouts — 20 behind Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during first inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series in Toronto, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Max Scherzer (31) looks on before batting practice Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Toronto, a day ahead of Game 6 in baseball's American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Against the world champion, Wrexham came agonizingly close to another spectacular plot twist.
Substitute Lewis Brunt was a matter of inches offside when he headed in what looked like an equalizing goal in a thrilling FA Cup fifth round clash against Premier League giant Chelsea on Saturday.
Wrexham - in front of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac - led twice at the Racecourse Ground and, even down to 10 men in extra time, pushed Chelsea right down to the wire before eventually losing 4-2.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro in extra time ultimately proved the difference between Club World Cup champion Chelsea and a Wrexham team that was playing non-league soccer just three years ago.
But even in defeat, Wrexham issued a statement of its potential as it aims to secure a fourth straight promotion this season and face the likes of Chelsea on a regular basis in the Premier League.
“It was one of the hardest games of the season so far,” Garnacho told the BBC.
That was some admission, considering Chelsea has played Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Napoli in the Champions League this season. But it was a measure of just how close Wrexham came to a famous Cup upset in front of its fans.
Reynolds and Mac - formerly known as McElhenney - were up on their feet and applauding Phil Parkinson's players when the drama was finally brought to an end.
The actors have witnessed some spectacular moments since their $2.5 million takeover in 2021 transformed the fortunes of the once down-on-its-luck Welsh club. And, even in defeat, this was another match that will live long in the memory of Wrexham supporters.
“It’s been a great cup run. Tonight was a great spectacle and we were competitive against a very good side. We will take a lot of positives from it," said Parkinson, the Wrexham manager.
The home crowd erupted in the 18th minute when Sam Smith chased a long ball from Callum Doyle and fired low past Robert Sanchez to put Wrexham in front.
There were more chances to extend the lead, but Chelsea leveled in fortuitous circumstances before the break.
George Thomason denied Garnacho an equalizer when clearing his goalbound effort off the line. But his clearance hit the back of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and rebounded into the net.
Wrexham led for the second time in the 78th when Doyle produced a clever backheeled flick from Josh Windass' shot from distance.
Four minutes later the game was tied again - Josh Acheampong firing powerfully past Okonkwo from close range.
A red card for George Dobson in added time meant Wrexham had to play out extra time with 10 men and Chelsea took advantage through Garnacho's goal in the 96th.
Brunt thought he'd leveled the game again with his header from Kieffer Moore's flick on - but VAR showed he was fractionally offside.
With time ticking down Lewis O'Brien fired narrowly wide and Chelsea could finally breathe easily when Pedro killed off the game in the fifth minute of added time.
“I said at the break in extra time there are still going to be chances for us. Unfortunately we didn’t take one but we have to take a lot of heart from that performance," Parkinson said.
Eberechi Eze blasted Arsenal into the quarterfinals and kept alive its hunt for a quadruple of trophies this season.
Eze stepped off the bench and fired a thunderous effort into the top corner to see off the challenge of third-division Mansfield, sealing a 2-1 win at Field Mill.
Premier League leader Arsenal is also into the Champions League round of 16 and the English League Cup final. But it was given a stern test by a Mansfield team that is in the bottom half of League One and leveled the game in the second half through Will Evans.
“We wanted to make it a proper cup tie and a tough game for Arsenal and I thought we did that,” Mansfield manager Nigel Clough told TNT Sports.
Noni Madueke had given Arsenal the lead with first-time curling effort into the top corner after 41 minutes. But substitute Evans seized on a loose pass by Marli Salmon five minutes into the second half and fired low past Kepa Arrizabalaga to send the home crowd wild.
“I was gutted to not start the game. I thought if I got any chance today I've got to prove a point — not just to the team, but to myself as well,” Evans said.
Eze had only been on the field for four minutes when he struck his 66th-minute winner and fired Arsenal into the quarterfinals for the first time since last lifting the Cup in 2020.
“It was a proper FA Cup game and credit to Mansfield, the stadium, the atmosphere that the fans created,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who named two 16-year-olds in his starting lineup — Salmon and Max Dowman.
Omar Marmoush continued his outstanding scoring record against Newcastle with two goals in Manchester City's 3-1 win at St James' Park.
The Egypt international has scored seven goals in five appearances against Newcastle since joining City last year.
His second-half goals on Saturday helped Pep Guardiola's team secure a comeback win that maintains City's four-pronged trophy pursuit.
Harvey Barnes put Newcastle ahead in the 18th, with Savinho leveling shortly before halftime.
Marmoush struck two minutes after the break and again in the 65th.
City has now knocked Newcastle out of both domestic cup competitions after beating Eddie Howe's team in the semifinals of the League Cup.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Newcastle and Manchester City in Newcastle, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Wrexham's Callum Doyle celebrates after scoring during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Chelsea players celebrate after a goal during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Wrexham co-owners Rob Mac, front, and Ryan Reynolds embrace after Wrexham scored during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Wrexham's Sam Smith celebrates after scoring during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze applauds after the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's fans cheer during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Cristhian Mosquera, left, challenges for the ball with Mansfield's Rhys Oates during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Mansfield's Will Evans celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
