Max Scherzer's tough start raises questions of pitch tipping once again for Toronto Blue Jays
Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Max Scherzer's first inning five spot raises questions of pitch tipping once again for Toronto Blue Jays.
Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer took the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays needing just one more strikeout to reach the historic 3,500 mark, a feat achieved by only 10 pitchers before him.
Instead of hitting that milestone, Scherzer struggled with his command against the Cleveland Guardians lineup.
By the time his outing ended after 3 1/3 innings, Scherzer had surrendered three home runs and seven runs overall. He exited without the milestone strikeout, with Toronto trailing 7-3.
This appearance marked his fourth start since dealing with forearm tendinitis earlier in April.
During that stretch, Scherzer has given up 19 earned runs across just 12 2/3 innings. His control and strikeout ability have also dipped, issuing seven walks while recording only six strikeouts.
After the game, Scherzer maintained that his physical condition wasn’t the issue.
The 41-year old said "He's “definitely in a better physical spot” now and that the forearm didn’t cause Friday’s seven-run start."
When asked about moving forward, Scherzer didn’t appear discouraged.
"You get punched in the face, spit it out, wake back up and figure out what's wrong and fix it,” Scherzer said. “And we'll go back out there and compete.”
One possible explanation for the outing is that Cleveland hitters may have been picking up on Scherzer’s pitch selection.
He generated just two swings and misses across 82 pitches, an unusually low number for a pitcher of his caliber.
Regardless of the cause, the 41-year-old has struggled to find consistency, now carrying a 9.64 ERA on the season.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated that Scherzer may have been tipping his pitches again
Manager John Schneider described the outing as "Wierd" when speaking with Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, hinting at the possibility of pitch tipping.
“They were laying off some really good pitches, and they were taking really aggressive swings throughout the count,” Schneider said. “Taking nothing away from them, but definitely got to go check your work. There are some guys over there that have played with Max in the past, too, so if you’re giving something away, you’ve got to fix it. But, yeah, that’s a weird outing.”
Pitch tipping has been an issue for Scherzer before. Last season, he was hit hard in multiple outings when opponents appeared to detect patterns in his delivery.
One notable example came against the New York Yankees in September, when Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice combined to score four runs off Scherzer in a narrow 4-3 defeat.
Scherzer’s short outing reflects a broader concern for Toronto’s pitching staff.
As of Friday, only the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies had received fewer innings from their starting rotations than the Blue Jays’ 107.
Through 25 games, Toronto’s starters have recorded just six quality starts, ranking 17th in the league.
This lack of length has placed significant strain on the bullpen.
Help may be on the way, however.
Help may be on the way, however.
General manager Ross Atkins expressed optimism about Trey Yesavage, who is nearing a return from a shoulder issue.
Yesavage could make another Triple-A appearance after a brief 2 1/3-inning outing but may also rejoin the major league club soon.
Meanwhile, José Berríos is progressing in his recovery from an elbow injury. After throwing four scoreless innings in Dunedin, he is set to make his next rehab start at Triple-A.
Another potential reinforcement is Shane Bieber, who is working back from a forearm issue.
According to Atkins, Bieber is now in the equivalent of a spring training buildup and could return within weeks.
Injuries have taken a clear toll on Toronto’s roster, with 11 players currently on the injured list, an important factor in the team’s 10-15 start.
Even so, Atkins emphasized that the organization isn’t using injuries as justification.
With 137 games still remaining and several key players nearing a return, the focus now shifts from explanations to improving results on the field.
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