Blue Jays provide disheartening update on Max Scherzer
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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer announced another minor setback in his return to the mound.
The Blue Jays signed the future Hall of Fame pitcher to a one-year, $15.5 million deal this offseason to be the team's fifth starter. However, in his first start with the Blue Jays, he left the game after just three innings.
Scherzer was dealing with a thumb injury, which has hindered his ability to throw. As the right-hander began throwing bullpens, it appeared he was getting closer to a return.
However, on May 13, Scherzer spoke to Sportsnet reporters Hazel Mae and Shi Davidi and revealed he's now dealing with back tightness.
«Max Scherzer played catch today. Told me & Shi Davidi he felt some back tightness after throwing his live, similar to what he felt in 2019. Will throw off a mound tomorrow and see how he feels. Said it's a «weird» thing because he doesn't feel it throwing just in the recovery,» Mae wrote on X.
While he threw a bullpen for the Blue Jays while the team was in Anaheim last week, he didn't throw his scheduled bullpen on Tuesday due to back tightness, per another update from the Athletic's Mitch Bannon.
The team said that the Blue Jays are still hopeful that Scherzer will be able to throw this week, however.
Scherzer was moved to the 60-day IL and is eligible to come off it until May 29, so the right-hander has a bit more time to work through his injuries.
His back has been an issue at earlier points in his career (he missed the first half of last season after undergoing back surgery in the offseason), so it's a bit concerning to see this pop up on the injury report.
That said, there doesn't seem to be as much concern there compared to his thumb injury, so it might not be worth panicking about just yet.
He's also not eligible to come off the injured list until the end of May, so there isn't a huge need to rush his rehab at this juncture.
Blue Jays staters enter today with a 4.49 ERA as a unit, so it's clear that they need help - it just won't be coming from Scherzer.
In Scherzer's absence, Toronto signed Spencer Turnbull and José Urena to Major League Baseball contracts.
Turnbull is building up in the minors while Urena has taken over a starting spot, but could be pushed back to the bullpen once Scherzer is healthy.
| POLL | ||
MAI 14 | 72 ANSWERS Blue Jays provide disheartening update on Max Scherzer Will we ever see Max Scherzer pitch again for the Blue Jays? | ||
| Yes | 23 | 31.9 % |
| No | 33 | 45.8 % |
| Too early to tell | 16 | 22.2 % |
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