New Update After Blue Jays Make Unfortunate Max Scherzer Announcement
The Toronto Blue Jays signed three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer this MLB offseason to a one-year, $15 million contract. An eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Scherzer brings a high-level of experience to Toronto’s pitching staff. Injuries plagued Scherzer last season, as four separate stints on the injured list limited him to just nine starts for the Texas Rangers. Landing on the 15-day injured list last March, Scherzer missed time as he rehabbed from back surgery. He was then added to the 60-day IL in May with the same designation.
Upon returning from his back surgery rehab, Scherzer landed on the 15-day IL in August due to right shoulder fatigue. The right-hander’s fourth and final IL addition of 2024 came in September after he suffered a left hamstring strain (via MLB.com).
While his availability was a major issue last season, Scherzer still posted a 101 ERA+ in his nine outings, and had been showcasing impressive stuff in three Spring Training starts with the Blue Jays. Striking out 14 batters in nine innings pitched this spring, Scherzer has surrendered just two earned runs.
This strong start to spring for Scherzer was put on pause when the Blue Jays announced via manager John Schneider that he would not make his next scheduled start. “Blue Jays are bumping Max Scherzer from his scheduled Thursday start due to a sore right thumb that developed after his last outing on Saturday,” Arden Zwelling reported on Tuesday. “Manager John Schneider says club is ‘just being extra careful with him’ and expects to know more about Scherzer’s status in coming days.”
As Zwelling noted, an update was expected in the coming days, and that has since been provided via MLB broadcaster Hazel Mae.
“Max Scherzer update: He had an MRI on the sore right thumb, John Schneider said they’re not majorly concerned,” Mae wrote on X. “He’s definitely ‘dealt with this in years past.’ But not related to the nerve issue from last season.”
All things considered, this is a positive update after what was an unfortunate announcement from the Blue Jays that Scherzer would be scratched from his scheduled start. While this update did not provide insight on when the 40-year-old right-hander would return to the mound, it did seem to rule out an extended absence.
Entering his 18th MLB season, Scherzer ranks second among active pitchers with 3,407 career strikeouts. He narrowly trails former teammate Justin Verlander (3,416) for the lead in that category.
