Max Scherzer rusty in return to Blue Jays after lengthy layoff with thumb injury

Yahoo

26-06-2025

Max Scherzer gave up three runs in five innings against the Cleveland Guardians Wednesday night in a rusty return to the Toronto Blue Jays from a long layoff with a thumb injury.
The appearance was Scherzer's first since a three-inning outing in his Blue Jays debut on March 29. He was placed on the 60-day injured list after that start with thumb inflammation and hadn't pitched again until Wednesday night. The Guardians won the Game, 5-4.
Scherzer starts game with walk, lets pitch clock expire
Scherzer started his return with a nine-pitch walk of leadoff hitter Steven Kwan. Kwan came around to score on a single after stealing second base to spot the Guardians a 1-0 lead. Scherzer didn't allow another run until a two-run fourth inning that was sparked by a pitch clock violation.
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With a man on third and two outs after a double and a wild pitch, Scherzer worked a full count against right fielder Nolan Jones. Scherzer was too slow with the payoff pitch. He was hit was a pitch-clock violation, which meant an automatic ball 4 for Arias and a free pass to first base to put runners on the corners.
Max Scherzer was rusty in his return to the mound Wednesday night. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Gabriel Arias cleared the bases with a two-run double on the next at-bat to extend the Cleveland lead to 3-0.
Scherzer went on to pitch a scoreless fifth inning that ended with a swinging strikeout of Carlos Santana on a curveball. His night was done. He finished the game with three earned runs allowed on six hits and three walks in five innings. He recorded four strikeouts.
Can Scherzer regain form at 40 years old?
The Blue Jays signed Scherzer to a one-year, $15.5 million contract in the offseason. In his previous two seasons with the Texas Rangers, Scherzer was limited to 45 and 43 1/3 innings, respectively, due to multiple injuries, including to his back, shoulder, triceps and hamstring.
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He did pitch for Texas in the postseason during its run to the 2023 World Series championship. And he was effective when he was available, posting a 3.57 ERA with 93 strikeouts in his 88 1/3 regular-season innings pitched.
A three-time Cy Young winner, eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Scherzer isn't what he used to be at 40 years old. The Blue Jays are hoping that he can maintain the type of effort he produced in Texas during his time in Toronto.