The Toronto Blue Jays have placed pitcher Max Scherzer on the 15-day IL with right thumb inflammation, the team announced Sunday.
Toronto also announced that it’s recalling pitcher Easton Lucas from Triple-A and making him active for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Scherzer exited his Blue Jays debut Saturday against Baltimore after just three innings and 45 pitches due to right lat soreness, the team said later that day. He had given up two home runs before leaving the game (the Orioles ultimately won 9-5).
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After the game, the 40-year-old told reporters the lat issue and thumb issue, which he has been dealing with since 2023, are “100 percent related.”
“Everything is compensating because of that thumb. The thumb is slightly better, but I still have discomfort in there,” he said.
“My arm is making adjustments because of that. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
During spring training, Scherzer spoke to The Athletic about his frustrations while dealing with the lingering injury.
“I know I can pitch at this level. I know I can still pitch at a very high level, as well. I know I have the pitches that I can execute and I can locate. But right now, it’s a thumb issue, and I’m gonna be battling until I’m fully built up.”
Toronto signed the three-time Cy Young Award winner to a one-year, $15.5 million deal at the start of March. It’s Scherzer’s 18th MLB season. He’s ranked 11th in all-time career strikeouts, pitched two no-hitters and won two World Series, with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and Texas Rangers in 2023.
He only made nine starts last season with the Texas, posting a 3.95 ERA, due to back, hamstring and nerve issues.
(Photo: Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)
