This offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays signed starting pitcher Max Scherzer to a one-year deal worth north of $15 million. Scherzer is 40 years old, and at various points in his MLB career, he has dealt with injuries.
During the 2024 season, he only pitched in nine total games with the Texas Rangers. Scherzer was traded to Texas from the New York Mets in 2023. Since the 2020 season, he has pitched in more than 20 games just twice.
He is projected to be a member of the Blue Jays’ starting rotation this season. However, it remains to be seen if he’ll be available to start the season in light of the injury it’s been revealed he’s dealing with.
Toronto Blue Jays Reporter Relays Max Scherzer is Dealing With Thumb Injury
Keegan Matheson of MLB.com elaborated on Scherzer’s injury update. Scherzer said, “My thumb hurts. It hurts to grip the ball. The critical thing I’ve learned over the years here is that your thumb is absolutely critical to your arm health. Unfortunately, this is what I’ve been dealing with since 2023.”
Max Scherzer on what he’s dealing with:
“My thumb hurts. It hurts to grip the ball. The critical thing I’ve learned over the years here is that your thumb is absolutely critical to your arm health. Unfortunately, this is what I’ve been dealing with since 2023.” #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 17, 2025
He also was dealing with thumb issues in 2024, and the same injury has caused him to miss some time in the past. With this potentially being a lingering issue heading into 2025, could there be a chance that Toronto takes him out of the starting rotation and puts him in the bullpen?
For now, the projected starting rotation for Toronto is Kevin Gausman, Scherzer, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Bowden Francis. It is going to be interesting to see if Scherzer can remain healthy for a full season.
Max Scherzer tells us that his thumb is giving him problems again after hitting the 50-pitch mark.
Scherzer spoke about how critical the thumb is to a pitcher’s arm health, citing 2023 and 2024 as examples where a similar issue led to other injuries elsewhere. #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 17, 2025
If he can’t go past 50 pitches at any point this season, why is Scherzer in the starting rotation for Toronto and not coming out of the bullpen? In just nine games last season with Texas, he had a 2-4 record with a 3.95 ERA. giving up 40 hits and 20 runs across 43.1 innings. Scherzer also posted a 40:10 K:BB while generating a 1.15 WHIP.
Toronto will begin the season with a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, and for now, Scherzer remains in line to start one of those games. Yet, if he’s not ready to make that turn, it could prompt an interesting decision for the Blue Jays.