Max Scherzer won’t be back on the mound anytime soon.
The Toronto Blue Jays moved the three-time Cy Young Award winner to the 60-day injured list on Monday amid a right thumb injury. The 60 days is retroactive to his last appearance on March 29, so it will keep Scherzer out at least until May 29.
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The move was one of several that the Blue Jays made on Monday. Right-hander Erik Swanson also was moved to the 60-day injured list due to a right forearm injury that’s kept him out all season. The team opted to sign pitchers José Ureña and Spencer Turnbull to one-year deals, too. Ureña was designated for assignment last week by the New York Mets, and Turnbull was optioned to the Florida Complex League.
Scherzer, 40, has made just one start this season. He pitched three innings and allowed two runs in a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on March 29, and threw just 45 pitches, before leaving early with a sore right lat muscle. He said that the injury developed because of a thumb issue.
“I just didn’t feel like I could really let the ball go,” Scherzer said at the time. “I had to back down the effort level. I was able to at least get through three and not blow up the bullpen. But after that third inning, I could just kind of tell we’re in imminent danger.”
Scherzer’s thumb had been a concern in the lead-up to the season, too. He was limited to just four starts in spring training, and he’s not been able to shake it in the months since.
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Scherzer signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with the Blue Jays this past offseason. He made just nine starts with the Texas Rangers last season due to both a shoulder injury and a hamstring strain. Scherzer finished the year with a 3.95 ERA over just 43 1/3 innings on the mound.
The Blue Jays hold just a 16-18 record heading into Tuesday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Angels, which kicks off a six-game road trip on the West Coast. Scherzer can return as early as May 29, when the Blue Jays are slated to kick off a four-game homestand with the Athletics.
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