Max Scherzer’s debut weekend with the Toronto Blue Jays has been nothing short of a nightmare.
It started on Saturday when the veteran pitcher gave up a home run on just his second pitch. Things only got worse from there—Scherzer lasted just three innings before exiting due to a right lat issue, which he believes stems from an ongoing problem with his right thumb.
By Sunday, the Blue Jays made it official, placing Scherzer on the 15-day Injured List with what they’re calling right thumb inflammation. The move wasn’t exactly a surprise, as Scherzer himself admitted after Saturday’s game that he needed to be at full strength before taking the mound again.
“I got to get this 100 percent before I pitch again,” he said, signaling that an IL stint was likely.
It’s a tough blow for Toronto, who signed the 40-year-old to a $15.5 million deal to help stabilize their rotation. Instead, they’re now left waiting and hoping that Scherzer can recover quickly and return in better shape than he was when he arrived.
