March 30: The Jays introduced at present that Scherzer is certainly being positioned on the 15-day injured record, with the analysis of proper thumb irritation. Left-hander Easton Lucas was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding transfer. Per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet, Schneider advised reporters that Scherzer is headed to see a hand specialist to search out out extra about his thumb damage. Both Rodriguez or Lucas seems prone to be part of the rotation in Scherzer’s stead.
March 29: Future Corridor of Famer Max Scherzer exited his first begin as a member of the Blue Jays after simply 45 pitches, and Toronto later introduced that his departure was resulting from soreness in his proper lat.
As famous by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Scherzer battled a thumb problem all through Spring Coaching that gave the impression to be related to the nerve problem that restricted the veteran with the Rangers final season. All through camp, Matheson relays that Scherzer indicated that pitching via the thumb problem elevated the danger of different damage points and particularly highlighted his shoulder as a attainable space of concern. Scherzer went on to substantiate that the difficulty is said to his thumb, telling reporters (together with Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet) that after three innings he advised supervisor John Schneider that there was “imminent hazard” of a extra critical damage if he continued to pitch.
Whereas Scherzer famous that he and the group’s docs haven’t but discovered subsequent steps, it sounds as if a visit to the injured record is probably going within the right-hander’s future. As relayed by Matheson, Scherzer on the very least received’t be making his subsequent scheduled begin. He was subsequent in line for a begin on April 4 in opposition to the Mets in New York, although his standing for video games past that has not but been introduced. The veteran famous that he’ll must get the thumb problem “to 100%” earlier than he pitches once more, and expressed frustration over the circumstances whereas emphasizing the significance of getting his thumb proper.
“My arm is making changes due to that [thumb injury],” Scherzer mentioned, as relayed by Matheson. “That’s a recipe for catastrophe.”
With an off-day scheduled for April 3, the Blue Jays received’t want one other starter till April 8. That provides Scherzer simply over every week to get proper earlier than he’d subsequent be wanted within the rotation, nevertheless it appears attainable that the difficulty will take longer to resolve than that. Ought to Scherzer require a visit to the IL, Yariel Rodriguez may step into the rotation from the bullpen or the membership may take into account turning the vacant spot within the rotation over to teen Jake Bloss. It appears possible the precise size of Scherzer’s absence received’t be obtainable for not less than a couple of days, although it’s attainable a choice in regards to the injured record may come early subsequent week on condition that IL stints will be backdated a most of simply three days.
No matter how lengthy Scherzer finally ends up lacking, the information has the potential to be an enormous blow for a Blue Jays membership that’s trying to claw its approach out of fifth place in a deep AL East division to make it again to the postseason in what may very well be the ultimate yr franchise fixtures Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette spend in Toronto. Scherzer was one of many membership’s most notable additions this winter alongside second baseman Andres Gimenez and Anthony Santander, and his addition was made within the hope that he may deepen a rotation that misplaced Yusei Kikuchi on the 2024 commerce deadline.
Whereas the righty has not been the identical pitcher who completed prime 5 in his league’s Cy Younger award voting in seven consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2019 lately, he nonetheless sports activities a stable 3.81 ERA over his final 36 begins and regarded like a entrance of the rotation arm as just lately as 2022. That was sufficient to promote the Blue Jays on the thought the veteran may improve their rotation so long as he managed to remain wholesome, however up to now his nagging thumb problem has made {that a} problem. After largely avoiding the injured record all through the overwhelming majority of his profession, Scherzer has made simply 59 begins over the previous three seasons with the Mets and Rangers and now seems on monitor to overlook extra time for the Jays.
