TORONTO -- The Blue Jays placed Max Scherzer on the 15-day IL with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation on Monday, yet another blow to a rotation that has nearly as many injured pitchers as healthy ones.
Scherzer has been dealing with this forearm tendinitis since his second start of the season, which was cut surprisingly short in what was termed a preventative measure.
In the four starts since then, here’s Scherzer’s line:
12.2 IP
19 ER
6 HR
7 BB
6 K
Even after his most recent outing, against the Guardians -- another tough one for Scherzer -- he insisted that his forearm was not to blame for the poor results.
This creates yet another hole in the Blue Jays’ rotation, but they’re used to this game by now. Cody Ponce is likely done for the year after undergoing ACL surgery, Shane Bieber is still ramping up slowly after dealing with elbow and forearm issues and Bowden Francis underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year. Trey Yesavage is finally on track to return Tuesday for his 2026 debut and José Berríos will come soon after, but the Blue Jays seem to be stuck in this constant cycle, trying to keep their collective head above water.
If Berríos still makes one more rehab start in Triple-A, which is scheduled for Tuesday, that could even open the door for Eric Lauer to slide back in for a start, or at least operate as the “bulk” arm in a bullpen day. Lauer was recently bumped from the rotation for Yesavage’s return.
Scherzer hits the IL sitting just one strikeout shy of 3,500. Only 10 other pitchers in Major League history have hit that milestone.