Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer is set to return to the mound on Monday, making his first major league start since mid-June. He will celebrate his 42nd birthday by pitching against his former team, the Washington Nationals, in Washington, D.C. Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed Scherzer’s return following the team’s 6-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Schneider indicated that discussions with Scherzer regarding his physical condition and recovery from a rehab outing in Triple-A Buffalo were positive. While Scherzer might have a limited pitch count, Schneider noted that the pitcher has met all necessary requirements for his return.
Scherzer’s return from injury
Scherzer’s return follows a period on the injured list, where he was placed in mid-June due to back spasms. His recovery process included several setbacks, notably receiving three cortisone shots in his right thumb. The thumb issue has reportedly affected him at various times over the past few seasons. He last pitched in the majors during a June 10 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
His rehab assignment began on July 3 and included appearances with the Single-A Vancouver Canadians and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. During his most recent rehab start in Buffalo, Scherzer demonstrated strong form, pitching five innings without allowing any runs, hits, or walks, and striking out seven Rochester Red Wings batters. He threw 56 pitches in that outing.
Despite his recent injury struggles, Scherzer expressed confidence in his current physical state. He told Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith that he feels he is in a “good spot throwing the ball” and that the ball is “coming out of my hand the way it needs to.” Scherzer further stated, “I can feel it coming out of my hand and that feels right. I know I can pitch. I know I can still go out there and compete.”
Season performance and career milestones
This season, Scherzer has made only six starts for the Blue Jays. In those starts, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has recorded a 1-4 record with a 10.23 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP, accumulating 14 strikeouts over 22 innings. The Blue Jays have experienced a challenging period, dropping seven of 10 games since the All-Star break.
Scherzer’s extensive career spans 19 seasons, during which he has played for seven different teams. He holds a career record of 222-121 with a 3.27 ERA across 489 games. He possesses two World Series rings; one was earned with the Nationals in 2019, the team he will face on Monday, and the other with Texas in 2023.
When Scherzer takes the mound on Monday, he will be just 15 innings shy of reaching 3,000 career MLB innings. He is expected to face left-handed pitcher Andrew Alvarez in the series opener.
Last season, Scherzer was initially left off the ALDS roster due to late-season performance issues. However, he was subsequently included on both the ALCS and World Series rosters for the Blue Jays. Toronto ultimately lost the World Series in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Source: toronto.citynews.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
