Max Scherzer is officially off the injured list and ready to toe the rubber for the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Get this: it’s not just any start, it’s his 42nd birthday, and he’s kicking off a series against his old squad, the Washington Nationals. What a way to celebrate, right? Except, well, his numbers this season are gonna make you cringe a little.
Mad Max is Back, But What’s the Catch?
So, Scherzer’s return marks his seventh start this season, and it’s been a real rollercoaster for the veteran pitcher. He’s been sidelined *repeatedly* with injuries, hitting the IL back in mid-June for those pesky back spasms and a thumb injury. Seriously, the guy can’t catch a break. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Sunday that after talking to Scherzer and seeing how he recovered from his rehab outing in Buffalo, he “kind of checked all the boxes.” That’s good news, but Schneider also hinted he might be “a little bit limited in pitch count.” So, we’re not exactly talking full-throttle Mad Max here, are we? His last rehab start with the Triple-A affiliate on Wednesday saw him throw 56 pitches and strike out seven, which is okay, but 56 pitches isn’t a deep start, especially for a guy coming off back and thumb issues.
A Tough Season, And an Even Tougher ERA
This is Scherzer’s 19th season in MLB, and his second with the Blue Jays. He joined Toronto last year and, to his credit, helped them reach the World Series, where they ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But this year? Oof. Scherzer is heading into Monday’s game with a 1-4 record in six starts and a shocking career-worst 10.23 ERA. Let that sink in. A 10.23 ERA! For a future Hall of Famer, that’s just wild. It’s been a rough ride for him, bouncing on and off the IL, and those numbers are telling the story. This guy hasn’t pitched in Washington since the 2023 campaign, and he spent seven seasons with the Nationals, picking up one of his two World Series rings with them. It was his longest stint in his whole career. Talk about a homecoming, but man, those current stats are overshadowing the nostalgia big time.
The Blue Jays need *something* to turn their season around. They’re sitting at a dismal 48-58 and are dead last in the AL East standings. They just got smacked 6-1 by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, wrapping up that series with another loss. That’s their seventh loss in their first 10 games out of the All-Star break. Things are not looking good, so a healthy, effective Scherzer is absolutely critical. Monday night’s start against the Nationals isn’t just a birthday celebration; it’s a chance for Scherzer to prove he can still be the ace Toronto desperately needs to stop this losing skid.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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