Toronto Blue Jays’ hopes for recapturing their 2025 magic took a hit Monday as Max Scherzer exited after just two innings and 36 pitches due to right forearm tendinitis against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre. The 14-2 loss not only highlighted the team’s struggles but also added pressure to an already taxed pitching staff.
“Given the state of our team and our pitching staff, those were explicit directions. You cannot hurt yourself. You can’t take a risk,” Scherzer said, according to MLB.com. “It’s much better to be talking about this today after this start, a little forearm strain, versus a forearm strain. We’re not talking about that.”
The Blue Jays have now lost five straight games and will face Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani over the next two days, increasing reliance on an overworked bullpen that covered 21 innings in three days.
Rotation depth remains top concern
Manager John Schneider, who recently admitted that the Blue Jays aren’t playing “their baseball,” confirmed the plan for Scherzer was limited to three innings, aiming to preserve him for upcoming starts. Toronto is also evaluating Patrick Corbin, who recently threw 74 pitches at Single-A Dunedin, as a potential emergency starter if needed.
Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges the fans as he exits the game. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
With injuries to Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, and Shane Bieber, the Blue Jays are navigating a delicate balance between rehab assignments and filling innings at the major league level. The immediate goal is simply to maintain one healthy starter while bridging the gap to returning players.
Pitching staff faces continued challenges
Adam Macko and other Triple-A options provide short-term relief, but none offer the length the team desperately needs. Toronto’s rotation depth will continue to be tested until injured starters ramp up their workloads, leaving Scherzer’s cautious approach as a model of discipline amid uncertainty.
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