DUNEDIN, Fla. — After some dominant performances through his first three spring training starts as a Blue Jay, Max Scherzer has hit what the team hopes is merely a minor bump in the road.
Manager John Schneider said that the 40-year-old veteran will miss his next scheduled start on Thursday due to what the team is describing as right thumb soreness.
In the short term, the ailment isn’t of major concern given Scherzer’s performance thus far and the fact that he’s looked and felt healthy through the first few weeks of spring training.
In his most recent start on Saturday, Scherzer allowed just one hit while striking out six in 3.1 innings against the Tigers. The fact that the three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 49 pitches in that outing was considered a sign that he was well on pace to start the season.
Schneider said the team will have a better grasp on the injury following Wednesday’s off day and at that point the team will decide on what to do next with Scherzer, who was signed to a one-year, $15.5-million US deal in the off-season.
If there is a concern, however, it is that Scherzer is attempting to rebound from a 2024 season that included just nine starts with the Texas Rangers, in part due to a nerve issue that effected his throwing arm and extended to his thumb.
For now, the Jays are just exercising caution with the veteran and there’s enough time remaining in spring training for Scherzer to miss a few days and still be ready for the start of the season.
For Thursday’s contest here against the Baltimore Orioles, left-hander Easton Lucas is scheduled to get the start. The Jays have maintained some starting pitching depth by keeping Yariel Rodriguez stretched out enough to fill that role should something happen to the five mainstays in the rotation.
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