The Blue Jays might get Max Scherzer again as quickly as subsequent week, writes Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The longer term Corridor of Famer tossed 74 pitches and punched out eight hitters — together with a rehabbing Wilyer Abreu — in a rehab begin in opposition to the Pink Sox’ Triple-A affiliate this week. The Jays might want to see how Scherzer’s ailing thumb responds, however he’s constructed up and feels his stuff is the place it must be. If Saturday’s scheduled bullpen session between begins goes properly, Scherzer might return to the Jays subsequent Tuesday.
A wholesome Scherzer can be a welcome boon at an opportune time. Toronto lately misplaced Bowden Francis to the injured listing. Kevin Gausman has allowed 17 runs over his previous 20 innings. Chris Bassitt has allowed no less than three runs in 4 of his previous 5 begins, pitching to a 5.59 ERA in that span.
Scherzer, 40, lasted solely three innings in his Jays debut early this season and pitched solely 43 1/3 innings with Texas in 2024. There are real issues about his well being, each by way of his thumb having the ability to maintain up over the course of a full massive league begin and by way of the way it’ll get better between outings when he’s taking the ball each fifth day. At the least with regard to his two rehab begins — 56 pitches and 74 pitches — he’s been holding up properly sufficient throughout these video games themselves. It is likely to be a bit earlier than the Jays let him unleash 100 pitches, however even when his pitch rely is carefully monitored, Scherzer ought to stabilize a rotation that’s cycled by way of a hodgepodge of fifth starter choices this yr.
The occupant of that fifth and last spot within the rotation, even with Scherzer again within the fold, is up within the air. Lefty Eric Lauer, who signed a minor league deal over the winter, has been glorious pitching in quite a lot of roles. Matheson notes that Lauer is angling for that fifth spot, quoting the lefty as follows: “I’m a starter and I need to be a starter. The fifth spot is form of up within the air. I am going on the market and attempt to take that fifth spot each time.”
Lauer has certainly made a powerful case. He’s pitched in 10 video games for Toronto, 4 of them begins, and picked up 35 1/3 innings with a 2.29 earned run common. He’s fanned 26.1% of his opponents in opposition to an 8% stroll charge. His skill to maintain that strikeout charge is a bit questionable, given below-average swinging-strike and chase charges of 9.8% and 24.6%, respectively, however that is far and away Lauer’s finest work since his 2021-22 peak with the Brewers.
That stated, one other low-cost pickup has made a equally robust case. Proper-hander Spencer Turnbull, signed to a $2MM deal after the season was underway, has pitched 4 1/3 innings and held opponents to 1 run. He’s allowed seven hits, walked two and solely fanned a pair, however Turnbull can add to his case when he begins tonight’s sport in opposition to the White Sox.
Mitch Bannon of The Athletic provides that supervisor John Schneider known as the fifth starter’s spot a “wholesome competitors” between Lauer and Turnbull. For now, each are within the image. If there are any setbacks with Scherzer, maybe that’ll stay the case. But when Scherzer returns subsequent week, the Jays may have extra wholesome rotation arms than spots obtainable — hardly a foul factor. In the event that they get to that enviable spot, the Blue Jays might take into account quite a lot of choices. Turnbull might function a piggyback choice behind both Lauer or Scherzer. They might go along with a six-man rotation. They might alternate Turnbull/Lauer in that fifth spot relying on their opponent.
Additional down the highway, Toronto is hopeful that 2024 first-rounder Trey Yesavage can push to hitch the beginning workers. That’s unlikely in 2025, as he was solely simply promoted to Double-A and has already thrown practically two-thirds as many innings this yr as he did in his junior season at East Carolina College. Nevertheless, Bannon writes in a separate piece that the hard-throwing Yesavage might emerge as a candidate to hitch the foremost league membership down the stretch if the Jays are in rivalry — maybe within the bullpen.
Schneider tells Bannon that Yesavage “has positively opened some eyes right here” and that “the stuff is actual.” Blue Jays scout Coulson Barbiche provides that even when he was watching Yesavage pitch in school, he appeared “darn close to ready-made” for the foremost leagues.
The 6’4″, 225-pound Yesavage has breezed by way of minor league lineups in his first full professional season, logging a 2.67 ERA with a mammoth 42.5% strikeout charge and an nearly comical 21.1% swinging-strike charge. His 11.5% stroll charge wants to come back down, however Yesavage is already at his third minor league stage of the season. The Jays could not have been all that aggressive together with his authentic project to Low-A, however they’re selling him aggressively now; Yesavage spent solely 4 begins in Excessive-A earlier than being bumped to Double-A, the place he’s now made two begins.
Good questions on the pitching facet of the roster are circulating in the intervening time, however there’s additionally some uncertainty with the workforce’s mixture of place gamers — particularly within the outfield. The Jays have Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander on the injured listing in the intervening time, however there’s nonetheless a surplus of outfield expertise on the roster — notably with Nathan Lukes coming back from the concussion listing in the present day.
Shi Davidi of Sportsnet appears at what could possibly be a looming logjam. Varsho is among the sport’s premier defenders and can man middle subject as soon as wholesome. Santander and George Springer will share one nook spot and the DH spot. Addison Barger is within the midst of a breakout and has logged loads of time in proper subject, however he can play third base commonly as soon as the remainder of the group is wholesome. Prospects Alan Roden and Jonatan Clase are additionally within the combine, as are Lukes, Will Robertson, Myles Straw and Davis Schneider.
It’s extremely uncertain the Jays would transfer one of many extra established veterans or Barger, given how properly he’s hitting, however Davidi wonders whether or not the Blue Jays is likely to be deep sufficient in outfielders to deal from that hefty provide as they appear to enhance for the stretch run.
