Max Scherzer suffers injury in Blue Jays debut due to thumb pain
- Max Scherzer experienced soreness in his right lat during his debut for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles.
- He was removed from the game after three innings, where he allowed two runs and threw 45 pitches.
- Scherzer's injury is linked to ongoing thumb pain, which has caused concerns for his future performance.
In Canada, Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, made his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday and pitched for only three innings. He left the game due to soreness in his right lat muscle, which he stated was linked to ongoing thumb pain that he experienced earlier in spring training. The Blue Jays faced the Baltimore Orioles, and Scherzer allowed two runs and three hits, including two home runs, while throwing 45 pitches. Following the game, the Blue Jays placed him on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right thumb. Scherzer, who signed a one-year contract worth $15.5 million with Toronto in February, has a history of injuries throughout his career, making this debut particularly significant as he is attempting to establish himself with a new team. He recently recovered from multiple injuries, including lower back surgery, and did not pitch for much of the previous season. His initial performance on the mound included struggles, allowing 417-foot and 434-foot home runs from Orioles players, which contributed to the team's loss of 9-5. After his early exit, Scherzer expressed frustration and highlighted the impact that his thumb issue had on his performance. He admitted that he felt discomfort during his warm-up before the game and communicated that his lat soreness was a direct result of compensation for the thumb pain. This situation raises concerns about his pitching capabilities moving forward, especially since he must resolve his thumb issue before resuming play. In conjunction with Scherzer’s injury, the Blue Jays made roster adjustments, recalling left-hander Easton Lucas and selecting Mason Fluharty from Triple-A Buffalo. Richard Lovelady, who replaced Scherzer and subsequently took the loss in Saturday’s game, was designated for assignment. Scherzer’s competitive nature and commitment to the game are evident, but this injury setback adds another layer of difficulty as he strives to contribute at an advanced stage in his career.