Max Scherzer‘s start to the 2025 season isn’t going the way he hoped.
The Toronto Blue Jays placed the veteran pitcher on the 15-day IL on Sunday with right thumb inflammation.
The 40-year-old surefire Hall of Famer hoped to be a contributor for the Blue Jays when he signed a one-year, US $15.5 million contract with Toronto on Feb. 4. But lingering discomfort in his thumb hampered his ability to get ready during spring training and led to a strained right lat in an abbreviated three-inning outing on Saturday in his regular-season debut for the Blue Jays.
Scherzer had an 80-pitch limit heading into his Blue Jays debut but threw only 45, giving up the two runs on three hits, striking out one. He had warned manager John Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker of the compensatory injury in his lat after his pre-game warmups, but he felt obligated to try to pitch to spare Toronto’s bullpen a long day.
With Scherzer now headed to the IL, the Blue Jays selected LHP Easton Lucas to the Major League roster and made him active for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Lucas, 28, appeared in two games for the Blue Jays in 2024 and finished with an 11.57 ERA over 4.2 innings. He also started three games for the Blue Jays in spring training this season, and pitched a total of 8.1 innings with an ERA of 8.64.
In other Jays news, it appears Mason Fluharty’s MLB debut could be just around the corner.
The Blue Jays selected the 23-year-old reliever to the Major League roster and announced that he will be active for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Fluharty pitched the 2024 season in triple-A Buffalo and finished with a 3.63 ERA over 67 innings. The left-hander also pitched seven innings for the Blue Jays in spring training this season and had a 1.29 ERA over seven innings of work.
To make room for Fluharty on the roster, the Blue Jays designated LHP Richard Lovelady for assignment.
Lovelady, 29, struggled in his two appearances for the Blue Jays to start the 2025 season. Over 1.2 innings pitched against the Orioles, Lovelady finished with a 21.60 ERA and gave up four earned runs.
The Blue Jays also announced that RHP Tommy Nance officially cleared waivers and has been assigned outright to triple-A Buffalo.
Watch the Blue Jays take on the Orioles in the finale of a four-game set live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.
