Toronto Blue Jays veteran pitcher Max Scherzer, who is turning 42, is set to make his return from the injured list by starting in Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals, as confirmed by Blue Jays manager John Schneider. Despite a recent 6-1 defeat to the Boston Red Sox, Schneider expressed confidence in Scherzer’s readiness for the upcoming game based on his physical condition and successful rehab performance in Triple-A Buffalo. Although Scherzer has faced challenges this season, including back spasms and thumb issues that required cortisone shots, he showed promising results with seven strikeouts in five innings during his recent rehab start.
Scherzer, with a current record of 1-4 and a 10.23 ERA, has been limited to just six starts this season due to injuries. Despite the Blue Jays’ recent struggles post-all-star break, Scherzer’s return brings hope for the team. Notably, Scherzer made a significant impact for the Blue Jays in last year’s postseason, being instrumental in the ALCS and World Series games, although the team ultimately fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With an impressive career record of 222 wins and 121 losses in 489 games across 19 seasons and multiple teams, Scherzer is a seasoned player with two World Series rings, one each with the Nationals in 2019 and Texas in 2023. His return to the mound on Monday marks a significant moment for both Scherzer and the Blue Jays as they aim to bounce back from recent setbacks.