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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Hangs tough after rough first inning
Rotowire
Scherzer allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Saturday.
Scherzer began his outing by allowing four straight batters to reach base on a hit-by-pitch, a double and two singles. That resulted in two Royals runs before the veteran hurler had recorded an out. Scherzer was able to bounce back, however, allowing just one more run and completing 5.2 frames on an efficient -- especially in light of how his start began -- 76 pitches. This wasn't anywhere close in quality to the 10-strikeout, seven-inning scoreless appearance Scherzer posted in his previous start, but it was nonetheless a gritty effort that ultimately helped his team to a win. After registering a 10.23 ERA across his first six starts this season, Scherzer has given up three or fewer earned runs in seven of his subsequent eight outings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Turns back clock in gem
Rotowire
Scherzer (2-7) earned the win against the Mariners on Sunday, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in seven innings. He struck out 10.
Seattle didn't get into the hit column until the fourth inning in a vintage performance by the 42-year-old right-hander. It was easily Scherzer's best outing of the season -- he recorded season bests in innings, hits allowed and strikeouts -- and he even passed Gaylord Perry for ninth all-time in career punchouts. He'll look to build on Sunday's showing his next time out in Kansas City, where he'll take a 6.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 46:26 K:BB over 57 innings.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Early control issues in loss
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-7) took the loss against the Royals on Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four across five innings.
The five free passes were a season high for Scherzer, with three of those walks being issued to three of the first four batters he faced. He was able to limit the damage in the first inning to one run before allowing another run to score in the fifth, but he couldn't get quite enough help from his Blue Jays teammates to avoid taking a third consecutive loss. Still, Scherzer has allowed two runs or less in four of his last five outings, logging a 4.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 25.1 innings in that span. He's lined up to start this weekend at home against the Mariners.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Stumbles in sixth loss
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-6) took the loss against the Rays on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out one.
Jesus Sanchez misplayed a ball in left field that was popped up by Richie Palacios, which helped plate a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but it was still a discouraging outing by Scherzer. The seven runs allowed tied a season worst for the 42-year-old right-hander, who had pitched at least five innings while yielding three runs or fewer in his prior three starts. Scherzer will take a career-worst 7.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 32:20 K:BB across 45 innings into his next scheduled start at home against the Royals.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Strikes out four in hard-luck loss
Rotowire
Scherzer (1-5) took the loss against the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four.
The 42-year-old right-hander looked spry on the bump Thursday, throwing a season-high 92 pitches in a strong outing. Scherzer is slowly beginning to turn an injury-plagued year around, tossing at least five innings while conceding three runs or fewer in three consecutive starts. He'll next set his sights toward improving on a career-worst 6.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB over 41 innings in a road matchup with the first-place Rays in pitcher-friendly Tampa Bay.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Top-10 all time in strikeouts
Rotowire
Scherzer did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four across 5.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.
Scherzer turned back the clock in Philadelphia, keeping the Phillies off the board for the first five innings. His punchout of Kyle Schwarber in the sixth was his fourth of the game, and it moved Scherzer up to 10th on the all-time leaderboard with 3,516 career strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson. Unfortunately for Scherzer, the good times were short-lived after he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, leading to the right-hander being pulled. In what is likely Scherzer's last season, he needs 18 more strikeouts to match Gaylord Perry for ninth on the all-time Ks leaderboard. Scherzer's next start is scheduled for next week at the Rogers Centre against the Yankees.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Turns in quality start vs. Cards
Rotowire
Scherzer allowed one run on four hits and a walk across six innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Cardinals. He struck out five.
It was a strong bounce-back effort from Scherzer after he went only 2.2 innings in his first start back from the IL against the Nationals his last time out. Sunday's effort marked Scherzer's third quality start in eight outings this season and his first since April 18. Overall, the veteran right-hander sports a 7.92 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP and 23:15 K:BB across 30.2 innings this year. Scherzer is currently slated to face the Cubs on the road his next time out.
Scherzer took a no-decision Monday against the Nationals, allowing one run on four hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. He struck out four.
Making his return from a lengthy absence with back spasms and a thumb injury, Scherzer struggled to find his control Monday and also lacked efficiency. He threw 75 pitches (44 strikes) and still couldn't make it through three frames against one of his former teams, and Scherzer has now walked three batters in three consecutive starts while failing to work into the fifth inning in each. The 42-year-old right-hander appears to be on his last legs amidst an injury-plagued 2026 campaign, dragging a 9.49 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB over 24.2 frames into his next scheduled appearance at home against the Cardinals.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Scherzer (back/thumb) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday in Washington.
Scherzer will be making just his seventh start of the season for the Blue Jays and his first since June 10 after an extended stay on the shelf due to back spasms in addition to a thumb issue that cropped up during his rehab. The veteran righty surrendered seven runs (six earned) over the first two starts of his rehab assignment, but he proved that he was ready to rejoin the big club after striking out seven over five perfect innings during his most recent outing with Triple-A Buffalo last Wednesday. Scherzer tossed 56 pitches in that rehab start, so he'll likely be in store for a suppressed workload Monday as he slots back into the Toronto rotation.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Returning from IL, starting Monday
Rotowire
Scherzer (back/thumb) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Monday in the Blue Jays' series opener versus the Nationals in Washington, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
After tossing five shutout innings in his rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Scherzer has been cleared to join the big club for the his first appearance since June 10. The 41-year-old has endured an injury-riddled 2026, making just six starts before landing on the IL due to back spasms before later requiring three cortisone injections to relieve discomfort in his thumb. Over 22 innings at the big -league level, Scherzer has posted a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Next start could be in majors
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated Thursday that Scherzer's (back/thumb) next start could be in the majors, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer struck out seven over five perfect innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He had been slated for one more rehab outing, but the righty's performance Wednesday -- along with the Blue Jays losing long reliever Patrick Corbin (teres major) to injury -- could push up Scherzer's timeline. Scherzer threw only 56 pitches Wednesday, so if he does start Monday against the Nationals, he would be facing a restricted workload. The 41-year-old has missed more than a month with back and thumb problems.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Resuming rehab assignment Wednesday
Rotowire
Scherzer (back/thumb) will resume his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Out for more than a month with back spasms, Scherzer had to be pulled off his rehab last week and was given three cortisone injections in his right thumb. The 41-year-old is scheduled for four innings and/or 60-to-65 pitches Wednesday and is expected to make at least one additional rehab start after that before rejoining the Blue Jays' rotation.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Scherzer (back/thumb) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The 41-year-old had his rehab assignment paused last week in order to get three cortisone injections in his right thumb, but he wasn't shut down from throwing for long. Scherzer originally landed on the IL in mid-June due to back spasms, but he's now received cortisone injections for both his side and thumb while on the shelf. The Blue Jays hoped that the right-hander's quick return to throwing will allow him to resume the rehab assignment in the near future.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Rehab assignment paused
Rotowire
Scherzer's (back) rehab assignment has been paused after he received three cortisone injections in his right thumb Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Scherzer was originally placed on the injured list last month due to back spasms, so he must have re-injured his thumb in his rehab start last Wednesday. The veteran right-hander has dealt with a laundry list of injuries this season, limiting him to six starts. Scherzer has posted a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 22 innings when healthy enough to pitch.
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Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Mixed bag in rehab start
Rotowire
Scherzer (back) was charged with five runs (four earned) on six hits and no walks over four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He struck out five.
It wasn't a great outing from a run-prevention standpoint, but Scherzer picked up 16 whiffs on his 72 pitches, which is encouraging. He averaged 93.4 mph with his four-seamer, which is slightly up from what he's averaged during his time with the Blue Jays this season. Scherzer will pitch in the Florida Complex League on Tuesday and could be back in the majors following the All-Star break, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Scherzer has a 10.23 ERA in six starts with the big club in 2026.
Scherzer (back) will make his next rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.
Scherzer tossed 49 pitches at High-A Vancouver on Friday, and he evidently got through the outing without issue. He'll presumably need at least one or two additional rehab starts before the team considers activating him from the 15-day injured list.
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