Blue Jays place Scherzer on IL with thumb inflammation
The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right thumb inflammation.
Left-hander Easton Lucas was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
Scherzer's first start in a Blue Jays uniform Saturday ended after just three innings because of what the team initially called right lat soreness. He first felt the tight lat during warmups and tried to gut through it but removed himself after 45 pitches.
Scherzer is dealing with a recurring thumb issue that flared up late in spring training. He said postgame that the lat issue is "100% related to the thumb," according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. The 40-year-old will now visit a hand specialist in the U.S. on Monday to determine his next steps, manager John Schneider said Sunday, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
"Yeah, I'm frustrated," Scherzer said Saturday, per Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. "I want to pitch. I know I can pitch. I know I can throw the ball really well. Unfortunately I've got an issue going on. It's coming from the thumb and I've got to address this.
"I've got to zero out that thumb before I can pitch again."
The three-time Cy Young winner has struggled to stay healthy over the last few years. He underwent back surgery following an injury sustained while pitching in the 2023 World Series. He made just nine starts last season with the Rangers due to his rehab, as well as shoulder and hamstring issues.
Scherzer, who signed a one-year, $15-million contract with Toronto in February, sits 92 strikeouts shy of 3,500 for his career.
Lucas, who replaces Scherzer on the active roster, posted a 10.80 ERA across 11 2/3 total big-league innings in 2024 with the Athletics, Tigers, and Blue Jays. He will be in the bullpen and active on Sunday but is also a candidate to take Scherzer's spot in the rotation, Schneider said, according to Matheson. Right-hander Yariel Rodríguez is also a potential rotation option.
Scherzer's next start had been scheduled for Friday against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Toronto also selected left-hander Mason Fluharty from Triple-A Buffalo, while designating veteran reliever Richard Lovelady for assignment.