Blue Jays Star Max Scherzer Sends Message After Unfortunate Injury News

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer is still dealing 18 years into his career. The 40-year-old has a 2.00 ERA, 14 strikeouts, and a 0.33 WHIP in nine innings of work this Spring Training. Scherzer signed a one-year, $15 million contract with Toronto on Jan. 30 after two seasons with the Texas Rangers. The eight-time All-Star won the 2023 World Series with them after going 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in eight regular-season starts. The New York Mets traded him to Texas midseason for shortstop Luisangel Acuna. Scherzer will likely be the Blue Jays’ No. 2 pitcher behind ace Kevin Gausman in the rotation, but his thumb injury could hinder that.

Scherzer opened up about the ailment on Monday, via MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson.

“My thumb hurts,” Scherzer admitted. “It hurts to grip the ball. The critical thing I’ve learned over the years here is that your thumb is absolutely critical to your arm health. Unfortunately, this is what I’ve been dealing with since 2023.”

Scherzer’s status for the start of the season is up in the air. Toronto will play the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day, which is March 27. Scherzer’s last chance to pitch within the Blue Jays’ first turn of the rotation will be against the Washington Nationals on March 31. Whether or not he plays will depend on how his thumb responds over the coming days, via Matheson.

“How he feels over the next 48 hours is absolutely crucial,” Matheson reported. “If he bounces back better than before, then it’s possible Scherzer could throw on Saturday or Sunday, either against Minor League hitters or in one of the final Grapefruit League games. That, in a perfect world, could still put him on track to be ready for his first turn through the rotation.”

‘WANTED TO PUNCH HIM:’ Schneider glad to have ex-rival Santander on Blue Jays now

Bench boss, veterans say former Orioles slugger is a terrific fit in the Toronto clubhouse

SARASOTA, Fla. – Blue Jays manager John Schneider was never a big fan of the guy who looms as his new home run threat.

He didn’t like the way Anthony Santander stood in the batter’s box.

He didn’t like his mannerisms.

And he especially didn’t like the way the man they call “Tony Taters” tended to clobber his team with timely hits and home runs.

“You joke about it a little bit at first, but I’ve told him I used to hate when during his first (at-bat) he does that little dig in and kind of stares in the dugout and looking at the clock,” Schneider said of the former Oriole, who was in the lineup here on Tuesday night for a game against his former team. “I wanted to punch him in the face every time he did that the last couple of years.

“And now I love it.”

Schneider didn’t actually want to punch Santander in the face. But like the hockey pest you hated to play against but has now moved into your lineup, there was some distaste for a despised foe.