The Toronto Blue Jays have sidelined veteran pitcher Max Scherzer for at least 15 days after placing him on the injured list Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
The 41-year-old right-handed pitcher has been tantalizingly close to a career milestone, sitting just one strikeout away from 3,500 for more than a week. He was unable to reach that mark during recent defeats against Arizona on April 18 and Cleveland last Friday.
Scherzer’s performance against Cleveland was particularly challenging, as he failed to record any strikeouts while surrendering seven earned runs over 2 1/3 innings on 82 pitches, pushing his earned run average to 9.64. However, following that game, Scherzer stated, “I would not characterize this start as the fault of my forearm.”
Reports indicate the forearm tendinitis has been bothering Scherzer since the beginning of April.
“The doctor said, ‘Hey, take five or seven days, let this all heal, and then ramp back up and you’ll see,’” Scherzer explained Monday. “‘Your body will tell you how fast you can ramp up.’”
The team has not yet announced who will take Scherzer’s scheduled Wednesday start. Left-hander Eric Lauer was expected to transition to relief duties when Trey Yesavage returns from the injured list Tuesday for his season debut against Boston, but Lauer may now remain in the starting rotation given Scherzer’s absence. Yesavage has been recovering from a right shoulder impingement.
The Blue Jays promoted reliever Chase Lee to fill the roster spot Monday, though another roster adjustment will be necessary for Yesavage’s activation.
Scherzer joins an extensive list of injured Blue Jays players this season, which includes more than a dozen teammates. Among them are designated hitter George Springer with a fractured left big toe, outfielders Addison Barger (sprained left ankle), Anthony Santander (torn left shoulder labrum), and Nathan Lukes (hamstring strain). Also sidelined are catcher Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb), starting pitchers Bowden Francis (elbow surgery), Jose Berrios (stress fracture in right elbow), Cody Ponce (torn right knee ACL), and Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation), plus reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow injury).
Currently sitting fourth in the American League East division with a 12-15 record, the Blue Jays began a three-game home series against Boston on Monday.
