Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Logs fifth straight quality start
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-4) got the win Tuesday over the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four in six innings.
Scherzer's control was a little shaky, as he issued three walks for the second time in his past three outings, but he was able to limit the damage in crucial situations. Tuesday's outing was a fifth straight quality start for Scherzer, though he hasn't topped five strikeouts since he punched out 11 on July 27. During his streak of quality starts, Scherzer has posted a 2.25 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 28:7 K:BB in 32 innings. He lines up for a home start versus Minnesota to open up next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Goes seven innings in third win
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Scherzer (3-2) earned the win Thursday over the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits and a walk across seven innings. He struck out three.
Scherzer was excellent Thursday, blanking Chicago for five innings before allowing a lone run on a Michael Busch homer in the sixth. The 41-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 2.42 ERA over his last four starts (26 innings), lowering his ERA to 3.83 on the year with a 1.07 WHIP and 52 strikeouts across 10 starts (54 innings). Scherzer will look to keep rolling in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week in Pittsburgh.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Comes up short in loss
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-2) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings to take the loss versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Scherzer put in a decent effort, but Clayton Kershaw was just a little better for the Dodgers. Scherzer's 98 pitches were a season high, and he threw 63 strikes to earn his third straight quality start, though he's taken both of his losses on the year during that span. He's now at a 4.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 49:11 K:BB through 47 innings across nine starts this season. The 41-year-old's next outing is projected to be another tough one, as he's lined up for a home start versus the Cubs next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Nabs second win
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-1) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Royals, allowing one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The 41-year-old right-hander produced his third quality start in his last four trips to the mound on 84 pitches (57 strikes), and Scherzer was shutting out Kansas City until Salvador Perez took him deep in the sixth inning. Scherzer continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the yard -- he's served up nine homers in 41 innings on the season -- but he's doing a better job of late of keeping the bases empty for them, posting a 4.13 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 28:2 K:BB in 24 innings over that four-start stretch. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Dodgers.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Fans 11 in loss
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-1) yielded three runs on three hits over seven innings Sunday, striking out 11 and taking a loss against Detroit.
Scherzer had one hiccup in the outing, and it resulted in a three-run shot by Gleyber Torres in the third inning. Aside from that frame, Scherzer did not allow another baserunner in his best and longest start of 2025. He forced 15 whiffs on 96 pitches and produced his first double-digit strikeout performance since 2023. Scherzer had completed six innings just once in his first six outings this season. He's sporting a 4.89 ERA with a 39:8 K:BB across 35 innings. Scherzer is lined up to face the Royals at home next weekend.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Hurt by hard contact in no-decision
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Scherzer didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.
The Yankees ambushed the veteran hurler for three runs in the opening frame, but Scherzer was able to settle in for four innings of one-run ball thereafter. Four of his five hits allowed went for extra bases, and the 40-year-old right-hander has yet to yield fewer than two runs in any of his first six starts this season. Scherzer will try to improve on a 5.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB over 28 innings in his next scheduled outing, which is slated for this weekend in Detroit against the first-place Tigers.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Earns win with quality start
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Friday.
Scherzer threw a season-high 90 pitches (59 strikes) to secure his first win and first quality start of the season. He was sharp through five innings before serving up a two-run home run to Nick Kurtz and a solo shot to Tyler Soderstrom in the sixth. Scherzer is now at a 4.70 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 23 innings over five starts this year. He's dealt with inflammation in his thumb throughout the year and will likely have to manage the issue in the second half as well, which could limit his effectiveness and ability to pitch deeper into games if the issue flares up.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Cleared to start Friday
Rotowire
Scherzer (thumb) is listed as the Blue Jays' probable starter for Friday's game against the Athletics in Sacramento.
Though Scherzer continued to deal with inflammation in his right thumb during his most recent start last Saturday against the Angels, he'll be ready to take the hill for his next turn through the rotation on five days' rest. Scherzer has yet to reach 90 pitches in any of his four appearances this season, and with the All-Star break looming, the Blue Jays may not be willing to overextend him during Friday's start.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Battles thumb through four innings
Rotowire
Scherzer gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings Saturday in a no-decision against the Angels and dealt with significant thumb inflammation during the start, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Scherzer said after the outing that he was optimistic he'd make his next scheduled start with an extra day of rest, adding that he battled to take the ball Saturday, failing to accomplish the normal weight lifting and bullpens that he typically does in between starts. "I rely on feel," Scherzer said after Saturday's start. "I really didn't have that going into this." He was on a pitch count of around 70, and while it's possible he'll go deeper into his scheduled start next week Friday in Sacramento, it's also possible that his thumb inflammation doesn't subside and he gets scratched or pushed back.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Cleared to start Saturday
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (thumb/forearm) will start Saturday's game against the Angels, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Scherzer battled right thumb fatigue and also some forearm tightness during his previous start in Monday's win over the Yankees. However, the 40-year-old was able to throw his between-starts bullpen session Thursday without any apparent issues, clearing the way for him to take his regular turn in the rotation Saturday. Scherzer's start against the Yankees was easily the best of his three this season for Toronto, as he struck out seven, didn't issue a walk and permitted just two runs over five innings. He threw only 71 pitches in that outing, however, and is unlikely to be ready to handle a full workload Saturday.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Also felt forearm tightness
Rotowire
Scherzer said he experienced some forearm tightness after his thumb began to fatigue during his start against the Yankees on Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The veteran right-hander apparently also dealt with the thumb fatigue during his first start off the injured list last week, though neither the Blue Jays nor Scherzer seem concerned. Still, some forearm tightness is notable for the 40-year-old, who has made just three starts this season due to the thumb issue, which he's been dealing with since 2023. For now, Scherzer seems on track to make his next turn through the rotation this weekend versus the Angels, but it's worth keeping an eye on his status.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Dealt with thumb fatigue Monday
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer dealt with some fatigue in his right thumb during Monday's start versus the Yankees, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The thumb fatigue helps explain why Scherzer was lifted after throwing just 71 pitches over five innings. Schneider indicated that Scherzer should be fine for his next turn in the rotation on Saturday versus the Angels, but it appears the 40-year-old right-hander isn't completely out of the woods when it comes to an issue Scherzer has said he's been dealing with since 2023.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Fans seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Scherzer yielded two runs on three hits and no walks over five innings in a no-decision Monday against the Yankees. He struck out seven.
The grizzled veteran managed to generate a solid eight whiffs in this 71-pitch outing while also notching seven or more Ks for the first time since July 25, 2024 versus the White Sox. Scherzer conceded both runs on a two-run blast to Jazz Chisholm in the fourth but otherwise looked sharp. Across 13 total frames, the 40-year-old sports a 4.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB. He is currently slated to make his next start at home against the Angels this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Thumb bounces back well
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Scherzer's right thumb "feels better today" following his start Wednesday against the Guardians than it did following the pitcher's final rehab start, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer threw 83 pitches (eight more than he did in his last rehab outing) Wednesday in Cleveland and said he could've thrown 10 more, if needed. It's good news, as both Scherzer and the Blue Jays weren't sure how the thumb was going to respond. As long as the thumb continues to bounce back well, Scherzer will be allowed to keep increasing his workload moving forward.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Goes five innings in return
Rotowire
Scherzer did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Guardians, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings.
Scherzer allowed a run in the first inning and two more in the fourth during his second start of the season, and first since March 29. He threw 55 of 83 pitches for strikes and generated seven whiffs in a solid return to the mound while continuing to manage thumb soreness. The 40-year-old owns a 5.63 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB through eight innings this season and lines up for a home matchup with the Yankees next week.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Scherzer (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Scherzer will make his long-awaited return to the Blue Jays rotation Wednesday in Cleveland after missing nearly three months with right thumb inflammation. The 40-year-old struck out eight over 4.1 scoreless innings in his last rehab start a week ago for Triple-A Buffalo, throwing 75 pitches in the outing. Scherzer felt lingering soreness in the thumb after the start and has admitted he's not sure how the thumb will hold up. However, he and the Blue Jays are ready to give it a shot.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rejoining rotation Wednesday
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Scherzer (thumb) confirmed that he'll be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Cleveland, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. "My stuff is fine," Scherzer said Sunday. "I'm trying everything I can to manage this [thumb] and make sure I can recover...There's no knowing, just have to get out there."
Even though Scherzer is poised to make his first start since March 29, his right thumb seems like it may be an issue that he'll have to continue to manage. After striking out eight batters in 4.1 shutout innings in his second rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo this past Wednesday, the 40-year-old was still dealing with some lingering soreness in his thumb afterward. Even so, Scherzer was able to temporarily quell concerns about his health by completing a bullpen session Sunday, prompting the Blue Jays to clear him to rejoin the rotation. He built up to 75 pitches during his last rehab start and shouldn't be under any major restrictions Wednesday, though the Blue Jays will presumably keep a careful watch on his workload and his effectiveness should he last deeper into the game.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Likely to return from IL next week
Rotowire
Scherzer is dealing with some expected soreness in his right thumb following his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Buffalo, but he is likely to return from the 60-day injured list during the Blue Jays' series next week in Cleveland, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer threw 75 pitches in Wednesday's outing, striking out eight over 4.1 scoreless innings. While it's not ideal that he's experiencing discomfort in his right thumb the day after the start, the Blue Jays were anticipating that would be the case. As long as Scherzer gets through a bullpen session Saturday without any concerns, he'll be cleared to start against the Guardians, likely next Tuesday.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Looks ready to return
Rotowire
Scherzer (thumb) built up to 75 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, allowing one hit and two walks over 4.1 scoreless innings while striking out eight.
The workload was arguably more important than the numbers in the box score, as the 40-year-old right-hander had trouble getting past about 50 pitches in prior rehab outings earlier in the season without having issues with his thumb. Assuming Scherzer doesn't experience any soreness with the digit following the outing, his next start seems likely to come with the Blue Jays. He could make his return from the 60-day injured list early next week during Toronto's series in Cleveland.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Set for second rehab outing
Rotowire
Scherzer (thumb) is aiming to throw 70-to-75 pitches in his rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, which could be the final outing in the minors before being reinstated from the injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The 40-year-old allowed two runs and threw 56 pitches over 4.1 innings during his first rehab start Friday, and if he's able to build on that workload Wednesday, his next stop could be back in the big leagues. Scherzer made just one start for Toronto in late March before the thumb inflammation sent him to the injured list, though it was an injury he battled throughout spring training.
