Blue Jays Facing Decision After Max Scherzer News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 8:09 PM ET

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer has made just one appearance in the 2025 MLB season. Signing a one-year, $15 million contract in the offseason, Scherzer made his Blue Jays debut on March 29.

Making it through just three innings in his lone start of the year, Scherzer was removed due to a right lat soreness. The veteran right-hander later admitted the lat soreness was related to a thumb issue that plagued him throughout Spring Training (via Keegan Matheson of MLB.com).

The team later placed him on the 15-day injured list with right thumb inflammation, and he has yet to make a second start.

On Friday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed Scherzer received a second cortisone shot in his injured thumb.

While this is one step towards the three-time Cy Young Award winner returning to game action, it was reported by Matheson that even in a "perfect world" it will still be multiple weeks until Scherzer is back in the rotation. This leaves the Blue Jays with a decision to make on how to continue filling Scherzer's spot.

Max Scherzer has a very important right thumb.

Story on where he's at now and how the #BlueJays can prepare for whatever amount of time this will take:https://t.co/xdnCT7nqbZ
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) April 18, 2025

Beyond Easton Lucas, Matheson admitted the Blue Jays do not have a clear rotation option to help make up for Scherzer's absence.

"(Jake) Bloss has allowed 19 runs (13 earned) on 19 hits and nine walks over 11 1/3 innings," he wrote. "Lazaro Estrada has gotten rocked, and while Eric Lauer’s numbers don’t jump off the page just yet, his experience makes him an option to be the next man up."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: