Latest Scherzer injury update causing turbulence in Blue Jays rotation

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer. Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Latest Max Scherzer injury update causing turbulence in Blue Jays rotation

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated May 6, 2026 12:55 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays' wishful hope and desire for a healthy Max Scherzer has vanished. The 41-year-old veteran landed on the 15-day IL with a forearm and ankle injury. The latest update is not what fans wanted to hear.

While his ankle is progressing, his forearm hasn't shown signs of improvement following throwing at Tropicana Field. The starting pitcher is demanding more answers for his forearm tendinitis. The next step is to discuss his forearm concerns with doctors and then evaluate the situation from there.

The latest update on his injury prevents him from ramping up and progressing with his throwing program. His forearm tendinitis presents a lingering issue similar to last season with his thumb.

Scherzer's inability to stabilize and anchor the rotation adds more distress to an already banged-up unit.

After throwing at Tropicana Field this morning Max Scherzer said his forearm isn’t responding the way he hoped. Plan now is to talk to more doctors and figure things out from there.

His ankle is progressing well, he told me @thehazelmae & @MitchBannon
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 6, 2026

Blue Jays rotation is in crisis mode

Scherzer joins Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber and Bowden Francis, who remain on the IL. This is in addition to Cody Ponce, who is out for the remainder of the season.

But even before the injuries, the three-time Cy Young winner sported a high 9.64 ERA across five starts, as well as a lack of durability and giving up the long ball.

While Scherzer remains on the shelf, this forces the Blue Jays to rely on Eric Lauer, who still hasn't found his 2025 groove. It also places more pressure on Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease to stabilize the rotation.

With an unknown timeline for Scherzer's return, the Blue Jays will also have to rely more heavily on Patrick Corbin. This leaves little room for error; the Blue Jays bullpen will also have to carry a heavier workload.

Scherzer's health raises significant doubts about his reliability as a starter. This has led to discussions about a possible move to the bullpen and the worst-case scenario of retirement, leaving a lot of uncertainty about his future.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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