Juan Soto ready to hit ex-teammate Max Scherzer with a shuffle

Padres star Juan Soto may be friends with Max Scherzer, but the Mets pitcher won’t look at him and Soto is willing to shuffle him when they play.

Friendships may transcend baseball but during the playoffs even friends have to be willing to look at each other as enemies. Too much is on the line.

So don’t expect former teammates Juan Soto and Max Scherzer to be friendly this weekend as the now Padres star faces off with the Mets pitcher in the NL Wildcard.

Soto let reporters into the dynamic between himself and Scherzer now that they’re on different sides. They haven’t talked and they don’t expect to.

Juan Soto is ready to hit Max Scherzer with a shuffle

“I bet he don’t want to talk to me at all. I face him through the year, and he don’t even look at my face. I respect that,” Soto said per Mark Feinsand. “He’s not worrying about if we’re friends or not. …For my way, same thing. I won’t be scared to shuffle him.”

Soto and Scherzer were teammates in Washington from 2018 to 2021 when the pitcher was traded to the Dodgers. This year Soto landed in San Diego in a blockbuster deal while Scherzer signed with the Mets in the offseason.

Scherzer is pitching in Game 1 on Friday night. Soto will try to do what he can to get the better of him to give the Padres the chance to upset the Mets.

If that means pulling a Soto Shuffle, Soto’s signature move meant to get into a pitcher’s head, then so be it. Be on the lookout for that one.