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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Next start could be in majors
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated Thursday that Scherzer's (back/thumb) next start could be in the majors, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer struck out seven over five perfect innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He had been slated for one more rehab outing, but the righty's performance Wednesday -- along with the Blue Jays losing long reliever Patrick Corbin (teres major) to injury -- could push up Scherzer's timeline. Scherzer threw only 56 pitches Wednesday, so if he does start Monday against the Nationals, he would be facing a restricted workload. The 41-year-old has missed more than a month with back and thumb problems.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Resuming rehab assignment Wednesday
Rotowire
Scherzer (back/thumb) will resume his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Out for more than a month with back spasms, Scherzer had to be pulled off his rehab last week and was given three cortisone injections in his right thumb. The 41-year-old is scheduled for four innings and/or 60-to-65 pitches Wednesday and is expected to make at least one additional rehab start after that before rejoining the Blue Jays' rotation.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Scherzer (back/thumb) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The 41-year-old had his rehab assignment paused last week in order to get three cortisone injections in his right thumb, but he wasn't shut down from throwing for long. Scherzer originally landed on the IL in mid-June due to back spasms, but he's now received cortisone injections for both his side and thumb while on the shelf. The Blue Jays hoped that the right-hander's quick return to throwing will allow him to resume the rehab assignment in the near future.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rehab assignment paused
Rotowire
Scherzer's (back) rehab assignment has been paused after he received three cortisone injections in his right thumb Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer was originally placed on the injured list last month due to back spasms, so he must have re-injured his thumb in his rehab start last Wednesday. The veteran right-hander has dealt with a laundry list of injuries this season, limiting him to six starts. Scherzer has posted a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 22 innings when healthy enough to pitch.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Mixed bag in rehab start
Rotowire
Scherzer (back) was charged with five runs (four earned) on six hits and no walks over four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He struck out five.
It wasn't a great outing from a run-prevention standpoint, but Scherzer picked up 16 whiffs on his 72 pitches, which is encouraging. He averaged 93.4 mph with his four-seamer, which is slightly up from what he's averaged during his time with the Blue Jays this season. Scherzer will pitch in the Florida Complex League on Tuesday and could be back in the majors following the All-Star break, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Scherzer has a 10.23 ERA in six starts with the big club in 2026.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Moving rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Scherzer (back) will make his next rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.
Scherzer tossed 49 pitches at High-A Vancouver on Friday, and he evidently got through the outing without issue. He'll presumably need at least one or two additional rehab starts before the team considers activating him from the 15-day injured list.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Builds up to 49 pitches Friday
Rotowire
Scherzer (back) threw three innings in a rehab start for High-A Vancouver on Friday, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three.
In his first game action since June 10, Scherzer built up to 49 pitches (33 strikes) and reportedly felt good afterward, per Doug Miller of MLB.com. The 41-year-old righty has dealt with a litany of injuries this season, most recently back spasms, and he's expected to need at least two more rehab starts before he'll be an option again for the Toronto rotation. Over six big-league outings and 22 innings this season, Scherzer has produced an ugly 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Making rehab start Friday
Rotowire
Scherzer (back/side) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Vancouver on Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer will rejoin the Blue Jays in Seattle on Saturday following the outing and throw a bullpen session Sunday before the team determines his next step. The 41-year-old is expected to require multiple rehab starts, so he will not rejoin the Toronto rotation before the All-Star break. Scherzer has been out since mid-June with back spasms and also needed a cortisone injection for soreness in his left side. He has a 10.23 ERA in six starts for the Blue Jays in 2026.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Likely needs rehab assignment
Rotowire
Manager John Schneider said Tuesday that Scherzer (back/side) will likely make a few rehab starts at Triple-A Buffalo to ramp up before returning from the injured list, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays are encouraged by the progress Scherzer has made since receiving a cortisone injection in his left side. However, his chances of returning before the All-Star break have taken a hit now that the team seemingly plans on having the veteran righty make multiple starts in the minors. A clearer timeline for his return to the big-league staff will likely emerge as he progresses through his rehab assignment.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Nearing return to mound
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (back/side) played catch Monday and could throw a bullpen session as soon as Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer threw a bullpen session as recently as last Monday, but the Blue Jays briefly shut him down a few days later after he experienced left side discomfort that was seemingly related to the back spasms that forced him to the injured list June 17. The right-hander received a cortisone shot Friday and has responded well to the injection, so he'll start the process of getting stretched back out. Scherzer could have a realistic shot at returning to the Toronto rotation at some point next week if he avoids any further setbacks while building up.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Cortisone shot for side/back
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Scherzer (back) will travel to Dallas on Friday to get a cortisone shot to "help alleviate some left side stuff," Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer landed on the 15-day injured list last week because of back spasms, and it seems his side discomfort is related to that. The veteran hurler threw another bullpen session Thursday, and he will return to Toronto following Friday's cortisone shot before the next steps in his rehab are determined.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Completes bullpen session
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (back) checked out well after throwing a bullpen session Monday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
After developing back spasms, Scherzer was scratched ahead of his scheduled start last Wednesday and placed on the injured list, but the Blue Jays have expressed hope that the veteran righty would be ready to return in close to the minimum 15 days. While Scherzer's ability to get back on a mound without issue seemingly supports the Blue Jays' optimism, he'll still likely need to make it through a few more throwing sessions before Toronto pencils him back into the rotation. The 41-year-old has made just six starts for the big club this season after previously spending time on the shelf due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Scratched due to back spasms
Rotowire
The Blue Jays placed Scherzer on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to back spasms.
Scherzer had been slated to start Wednesday in Boston, but the Blue Jays instead opted to put him on the shelf after he experienced the back issue when he woke up Monday and didn't respond to treatment as quickly as the team had hoped, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. Toronto recalled Chad Dallas from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move, and he could be tasked with covering multiple innings out of the bullpen Wednesday once opening pitcher Braydon Fisher exits the contest. Scherzer's move to the IL comes just one week after the Blue Jays activated him following an absence of nearly seven weeks due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. The transaction is retroactive to Sunday, so Scherzer will be eligible for activation as soon as June 29.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Fares poorly in return
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out four.
After missing more than six weeks due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation, Scherzer didn't have his best stuff in his return Wednesday, although he did record his 3,500th career strikeout when he fanned the first batter he faced, Kyle Schwarber. The 41-year-old right-hander has made it through four innings just once through six starts so far this year, failing to collect more than four punchouts in any outing. Scherzer will take a miserable 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB over 22 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Boston.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Activated ahead of start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Scherzer (forearm/ankle) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Phillies in Toronto.
Scherzer will take the hill for Toronto for the first time since April 24 after he was shelved more than six weeks due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. The veteran hurler was cleared to return to the Toronto rotation after completing a pair of rehab starts with Triple-A Buffalo. He built up to 3.2 innings and 73 pitches in his final rehab appearance last week, so Scherzer should be operating with only a minor workload restriction Wednesday.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: On track to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Scherzer (forearm) threw a bullpen session Sunday and expressed confidence that he would be available to pitch against the Phillies on Wednesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
"[I] checked a lot of boxes, and recovered well... I can tell you I'm good. Yeah, I'll be able to go Wednesday," Scherzer noted after Sunday's bullpen session. He landed on the 15-day injured list in late April due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation and was also dealing with a right thumb issue during his recovery. The Blue Jays are also expecting Dylan Cease (hamstring) to return from the IL in the coming week, giving the team a much-needed boost to its rotation.
