The Blue Jays de Toronto placed the right -hander Max Scherzer on the injured list on Sunday, one day after making his debutable team debut. The future temple of fame has sold two solo circuits into three rounds against the Baltimore Orioles before being removed with what the team initially called the LAT right. Scherzer’s injury is now described as an inflammation of the right thumb.
In a corresponding movement, the Blue Jays recalled the left-hander Easton Lucas of Triple-A Buffalo.
“(There was) an imminent danger,” said Scherzer after being withdrawn from the early Saturday match (via Sportsnet). “It’s 100% linked to the thumb … I’m frustrated. I want to launch. I have to get this 100% before resuming.”
Scherzer, who missed time with a right thumb injury at the end of spring training, said on Saturday that he thought that LAT’s pain was the result of his body compensating for the thumb. He had to launch around 80 fields on Saturday, but was removed after launching 45.
The Blue Jays have a solid start five, although their depth behind this top five is quite limited. Here is their depth of rotation board:
- Rhp Jose Berrios
- Rhp Kevin Gausman
Rhp Max Scherzer- Rhp Chris Bassitt
- Rhp Bowden Francis
- Rhp Yariel Rodríguez
- Rhp Jake Bloss
Rodríguez opened the season in the enclosure of the lifts and granted three points in one round on the day of the opening. The Blue Jays would probably put him in the rotation to replace Scherzer rather than calling Bloss, who struggled badly during spring training (eight points and three circuits in eight sleeves). Rodríguez achieved an MPM of 4.47 in 21 departures last season.
Scherzer, 41 years old in July, was limited to nine departures by rear surgery and a shoulder number last season. He underwent a major muscle strain of Teres in September 2023 and returned before the scheduled date to help the Texas Rangers in the playoffs. Once one of the excellent work horses of the generation, injuries began to accumulate on Scherzer at the end of his career.
The defeat on Saturday fell from Toronto to 1-2 on the young season. Their pitch staff granted 10 circuits in 27 rounds.