Max Scherzer, turning 42 this week, is back on the mound Monday for the Blue Jays in Washington, coming straight off the injured list. This isn’t just a regular start, it’s a birthday start for the veteran right-hander after a rough patch of his own. Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed the plan, saying, “Max is going to pitch (Monday),” after their 6-1 loss to the Red Sox. Schneider also mentioned that after talking with Scherzer and understanding his recovery from a rehab outing in Triple-A Buffalo, he “checked all the boxes,” although there might be a limited pitch count.
Mad Max is Back… With a Catch
It’s great to see a guy like Max Scherzer back on the bump, but let’s be real, his season so far has been wild. Scherzer hit the injured list in mid-June with back spasms and has had multiple setbacks, including three cortisone shots in his thumb. The dude’s a warrior, no doubt, but his six starts this season have netted a 1-4 record with a mind-blowing 10.23 ERA. Oof. He did throw 56 pitches over five innings, striking out seven in his rehab start on Wednesday, which is a good sign, but that regular season ERA is tough to look at. The Blue Jays could use a boost, too, having dropped seven of ten games since the All-Star break.
Last season, Scherzer was left off the ALDS roster due to late-season struggles, but he came back strong enough to make the ALCS and World Series roster for the Blue Jays, who eventually lost a tough seven-game series to the Dodgers. This guy’s career numbers are insane: 222-121 with a 3.27 ERA over 19 seasons, 489 games, and seven different teams. He’s got two World Series rings, one from 2019 with the Nationals, where he’ll literally start Monday, and another with Texas in 2023. What a legacy! But the question now is, can he bring that championship form back for Toronto this season?
Trade Deadline Drama Hits Hard for the Athletics and Mets
Meanwhile, if you thought the Blue Jays had drama, spare a thought for the Athletics. Their plans for the MLB Trade Deadline, set for August 3, just took a massive hit. All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee on Sunday, per ESPN. This injury is brutal, potentially sidelining him for the rest of the season and totally blowing up their Trade Deadline strategy. Langeliers was one of the most sought-after players expected to be available, but this effectively removes him from the market. He was having the best season of his career, batting .263 with 23 homers, 51 RBIs, and an .829 OPS in 93 games. The Athletics, sitting at 44-60 and fourth in the AL West, were clearly looking to sell, but now the front office has no choice but to reevaluate their entire approach. That’s just gut-wrenching for everyone involved.
And just to pile on the injury news, Mets slugger Juan Soto landed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a left calf strain. He walked twice against Dodgers starter Rōki Sasaki in Friday’s 4-2 loss before getting replaced in the sixth inning. He looked uncomfortable running to second base early on in the second inning. Soto’s been hitting .29, so losing a bat like that, especially mid-season, is always a tough pill to swallow for the Mets.
It’s a wild week around baseball. Scherzer takes the mound Monday for the Blue Jays, who desperately need him to somehow turn that ERA around to get back on track. For the Athletics, it’s a scramble to figure out their trade strategy before August 3 after losing their biggest chip. And for the Mets, they’ll be hoping Soto’s calf strain is a quick recovery. Get ready, folks, things are heating up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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