Max Scherzer placed on injured list, complicating Toronto’s rotation

TORONTO. – The Toronto Blue Jays placed veteran pitcher Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list due to tendinitis in his right forearm and inflammation in his left ankle, in a new blow to their already affected starting rotation.

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Scherzer has been dealing with forearm discomfort since his second start of the season, which was cut short as a precautionary measure. However, the right-hander has struggled in his recent outings, giving up 19 earned runs in just 12.2 innings, with six home runs allowed and only six strikeouts. Despite his complications on the mound, the experienced pitcher had downplayed the injury after his most recent performance against the Cleveland Guardians, assuring that his problems were not directly related to the forearm. The absence of Scherzer deepens the pitching crisis in Toronto, which is already facing multiple absences in its starting rotation. Cody Ponce will miss the rest of the season after an ACL surgery, while Shane Bieber continues to recover from elbow and forearm discomfort, and Bowden Francis underwent Tommy John surgery at the beginning of the season. Amidst this scenario, the team anticipates the return of players like Puerto Rican José Berríos, who is undergoing rehabilitation, as well as the season debut of prospect Trey Yesavage. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was just one strikeout away from reaching 3,500 in his career, a mark achieved by only a select group of pitchers in Major League history. The Blue Jays continue to seek alternatives to stabilize their rotation in a season marked by injuries and inconsistency from the mound.