Scherzer (thumb) will start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer's right thumb bounced back well from Thursday's bullpen session, officially clearing the way for him to return to Grapefruit League action. He is targeting 60-to-65 pitches Saturday and, as long as he doesn't have a setback with the thumb that day or Sunday, will be ready to roll for the start of the regular season.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Tentatively lined up for Saturday
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Scherzer (thumb) said Thursday that he's tentatively lined up to pitch in a game Saturday, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.
Scherzer got through a bullpen session Thursday without any apparent issues, but he will have to wait and see how his right thumb recovers before he's cleared to pitch Saturday. If he is able to take the ball this weekend, the goal is to get up to the 65-to-70 pitch count, which would set him up to be ready to make his first start of the regular season.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Aiming to be ready Opening Day
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Scherzer (thumb) will throw another bullpen session Thursday and hopes to pitch in a game this weekend, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Scherzer and the Blue Jays remain hopeful that the veteran right-hander will be ready to go on Opening Day, but they'll have to wait and see how his sore thumb responds. The 40-year-old has been excellent this spring when on the bump, yielding just two runs with a 14:0 K:BB in nine innings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Hopes to pitch in game this weekend
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that he's hopeful Scherzer (thumb) can pitch in a game this weekend, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Scherzer is dealing with a nagging right thumb issue that, according to Schneider, felt "probably a little bit better than I think he expected" Tuesday. The pitcher has said the injury begins to flare up on him around 50 pitches, but he's trying to get a better handle on it while working with a hand specialist, doctors and trainers. Scherzer is considered day-to-day.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Still bothered by thumb
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Scherzer said after starting in a minor-league game Monday that his right thumb still "hurts," Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. "It hurts to grip the ball," Scherzer said, adding that the thumb has been giving him problems once he gets to around 50 pitches in spring outings.
The pitcher also noted that the thumb is "absolutely critical to your arm health" and implied that he's had problems with it "since 2023." What this all means for Scherzer's outlook is not yet clear. He is working with a hand specialist, doctors and trainers and expects to know more about his status within the next couple days. If Scherzer needs time on the injured list to begin the season, Yariel Rodriguez could step into the Blue Jays' rotation.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Set to throw in minor-league game
Rotowire
Scherzer (thumb) will throw in a minor-league game early this week, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Scherzer was scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League start against the Orioles due to right thumb soreness. An MRI came back negative, and he remains on track to be ready for Opening Day. Across three spring outings, Scherzer has allowed two runs on three hits while striking out 14 over nine innings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Resumes throwing after clean MRI
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Scherzer resumed playing catch Thursday after an MRI on his right thumb didn't show anything alarming, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Scherzer developed right thumb soreness following his last Grapefruit League outing and was scratched from a scheduled start Thursday. However, he'll throw a bullpen session Friday or Saturday and should be able to make another spring start not long after that. Scherzer has been superb in nine frames this spring, yielding just two runs with a 14:0 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Bumped from start with sore thumb
Rotowire
Scherzer will no longer make his scheduled Grapefruit League start Thursday against the Orioles due to right thumb soreness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The soreness came about following Scherzer's last outing Saturday versus the Tigers. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that the Blue Jays are "just being extra careful" with Scherzer, and the skipper expects to know more about the veteran right-hander's status in the coming days. Scherzer has been terrific this spring, posting a 14:0 K:BB over nine Grapefruit League innings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Blistering spring continues
Rotowire
Scherzer gave up one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out six during Saturday's split-squad game against the Tigers.
Mad Max has been absolutely dominant in camp so far, posting a 14:0 K:BB over nine innings. The 40-year-old right-hander is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign with the Rangers and can't be counted on as a 200-inning workhorse any more, but Scherzer seems determined to prove he can still carve through a lineup when he is on the mound. He may have some personal milestones in his sights as well in 2025 -- Scherzer needs 93 more strikeouts for 3,500 in his career, and 103 would put him past the legendary Walter Johnson on MLB's all-time list.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Fans four in Sunday's start
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Scherzer struck out four without walking a batter over 3.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The right-hander gave up a solo homer to Kody Clemens in the second inning, but it was the only baserunner Scherzer allowed. The 40-year-old has had a dominant start to camp, posting an 8:0 K:BB through 5.2 innings in two starts, and he seems intent on proving he still has something left in the tank after he was able to work only 43.1 innings for the Rangers in 2024 due to multiple injuries.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Impressive in spring debut
Rotowire
Scherzer topped out at 94.2 mph during his first Grapefruit League action Tuesday against the Cardinals, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The 40-year-old right-hander looked good overall during his two innings of work, giving up one run on one hit and striking out four without walking a batter. Scherzer's velocity was especially encouraging, as he saw his fastball average sink to 92.5 mph last season over just nine starts with Texas. If the future Hall of Famer can stay mostly healthy and regain a bit of zip -- he averaged 93.8 mph in 2023 over 152.2 innings split between the Rangers and Mets -- Scherzer could put together one more solid campaign in his first stint with the Blue Jays.
Scherzer agreed to a one year, $15.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The Blue Jays will be Scherzer's seventh team in the majors as he looks to pitch in his 18th season. The 40-year-old is coming off of a nine-start season with the Rangers during which he dealt with back and arm injuries, but hopes of a healthy offseason will propel him into 2025. If the right-hander can stay healthy, he should be a key piece at the top of Toronto's rotation alongside Kevin Gausman.
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