The Toronto Blue Jays placed veteran pitcher Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. Scherzer has managed the forearm issue since his second start of the season. The move adds to the team's ongoing rotation woes early in 2026.
Toronto -- Max Scherzer landed on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation, the Blue Jays announced Monday. The issues compound a rotation plagued by injuries, leaving nearly as many pitchers sidelined as available. Scherzer's forearm tendinitis dates back to his second start, which was abbreviated as a precaution. In his four subsequent outings, he posted 12.2 innings with 19 earned runs, six home runs allowed, seven walks and six strikeouts. After a rough start against the Guardians, Scherzer maintained his forearm was not the culprit, pinpointing the ankle instead for forcing mechanical adjustments on his landing foot. He described it as a 'double whammy,' too risky to pitch through early in April. 'I could just tell I wasn’t right. [Pitching coach] Pete [Walker] was right there and we both saw it,' Scherzer said. 'We just didn’t feel I was in a good enough spot to go forward. Based on the calendar, here in April, it’s early in the season and this is just a point in time where I can get right.' No additional MRIs or injections are planned; rest and rehab will suffice. Scherzer recounted waking after a Minnesota start with foot pain that nearly toppled him, despite forearm clearance. 'I was so worried about my forearm after that Minnesota start, so I woke up the next day worried about my forearm and my forearm checked out. My forearm was good, but I stepped out of bed and almost fell over,' he said, 'because my foot was killing me. I’ve been aggressively trying to get my foot back underneath me.' The Blue Jays face further challenges with Cody Ponce out for the year after ACL surgery, Shane Bieber easing back from elbow and forearm troubles, and Bowden Francis recovering from Tommy John surgery. Trey Yesavage is set for his 2026 debut Tuesday, with José Berríos following after a Triple-A rehab outing that day. Patrick Corbin has stabilized the staff on a one-year, $1 million contract, while Triple-A options like Chad Dallas, CJ Van Eyk and Adam Macko provide depth. Scherzer enters the IL one strikeout from 3,500, a mark reached by only 10 others in MLB history.
