How a healthy Max Scherzer will stabilize the Blue Jays rotation

He is working towards pitching six innings in the rotation as he ramps up in camp. Scherzer offers dynamite intensity to a rotation that is currently undergoing injuries from two starters, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios. 

Luckily, the Blue Jays have depth with Scherzer and Eric Lauer, whose signature role has been to come in when pitchers in the rotation are injured, which he did a good job of doing last season. 

Showcasing his resilience and how far he's come from his lingering thumb injury and is entering this season in prime health. If he can steer clear of landing on the injury list, he will solidify the rotation depth. 

At one point, it seemed that Scherzer could have been nearing retirement during his time spent on the injury list, and taking into consideration his age. 

High-reward, low-risk addition

Having signed a one-year, $3 million deal, he is viewed as a vital veteran arm with a progressive ramp-up before taking on a secure and full rotation spot in order to manage his workload. 

Essentially, he offers immense value, serving as a "controllable" veteran who can take on tough matchups. His ramp-up process will be significant as his 2026 contract entails heavy incentives for innings, rewarding him for reaching benchmarks from 65 up to 155 innings pitched. 

His re-signing also showcases his dedication to the team, as he had other options in free agency but stuck with the team that made it all the way to the World Series. 

His elite veteran presence offers a fiery and competitive edge and persona to the rotation alongside his leadership, which is a bonus to have along veteran pitchers Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease. 

Scherzer will provide high strikeouts and is a low-risk signing that can be utilized in high-leverage situations. 

Taking his age into account, Scherzer won't be the Cy-Young Scherzer, but his performance in camp has shown high fastball velocities (93-95 mph range), which is a good sign. It insinuates that he is in a good position to pitch better than his injury-plagued 2025 season.

Scherzer offers postseason success and experience, having performed well in the postseason for the Blue Jays last season, where he lowered his ERA to 3.77 from 5.19 across 17 starts. 

His first season with the team was marred by unfortunate injuries, with a 5-5 record and an uncharacteristic ERA of 5.19 across 17 starts. 

Taking into account Scherzer's age (41), he will likely put out around 20-25 starts. For the Blue Jays in 2026, assuming a healthy season.