Blue Jays fans received an encouraging update on the status of right-hander Max Scherzer’s rehab from the thumb injury that has sidelined him on and off for over a year. As relayed by Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet, Scherzer threw fifty pitches as part of a three-inning simulated game today. Manager John Schneider told reporters (including Zwelling) that Scherzer came out of the outing feeling good after having thrown all of his pitches, and that the next step for the right-hander is to throw a side session in a few days, as he would between starts if he were healthy and pitching in the rotation.
It’s a major step forward for Scherzer, who has made just one start this year after signing a one-year deal with Toronto during the offseason. MLB.com suggests that a rehab assignment could be the next step for Scherzer if he comes out of his side session looking good, and that could put him on schedule to make his return to the Jays before the end of the month. A healthy and effective Scherzer would provide a massive boost to a Toronto rotation that has been among the league’s weakest this year, and could help the Jays stay in the AL Wild Card conversation after their recent impressive stretch of play put them in a three-way tie with the Twins and Rays for the league’s three Wild Card spots. In the meantime, the Jays appear poised to continue relying on veterans Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt to hold things down at the front of the rotation, with Jose Berrios, Bowden Francis, and recently-added Spencer Turnbull bringing up the rear.
Speaking of Francis, the right-hander has had a rough go of it this year with a 5.84 ERA and 6.47 FIP across 12 starts. Those ugly numbers have led to some questions about whether or not he’ll remain in the rotation going forward, but Shi Davidi of Sportsnet writes that Schneider has dismissed the possibility of making a change when it comes to Francis, whether that be a demotion to the minors, a move to the bullpen, or even the use of an Opener in front of the 29-year-old.
“…we need him. That’s the bottom line,” Schneider said of Francis, as relayed by Davidi. “We need him to help contribute and be the pitcher that he can be. So you keep working to make adjustments. The stuff is where it should be. It’s just the mix and the location you’ve got to tighten up a little bit, that’s all.”
That vote of confidence in Francis as a starter seems likely to keep him in the rotation for at least the time being, but it’s possible that could change if he doesn’t turn things around in the near future. After all, Scherzer is on the mend and could be back in action later this month as previously mentioned. Turnbull was added to the roster today and could take the ball later this week for his first big league start of the year, and southpaw Eric Lauer has arguably pitched well enough in a long relief role to merit at least some consideration for a starting job as well.
Turning to the lineup, the Jays have missed both the bat and the glove of center fielder Daulton Varsho since he was placed on the injured list with a hamstring strain last week. It was a frustrating turn of events for the center fielder, who had already missed the first month of the season while rehabbing the rotator cuff surgery he underwent back in September. In the month Varsho was available, however, he provided a 108 wRC+ and swatted eight homers while offering his characteristically excellent defense in center field. The good news is that Zwelling reports Varsho was among the hitters to face Scherzer during his simulated game today, and even hit a home run off the future Hall of Famer.
That Varsho is healthy enough to face live pitching and participate in a simulated game is a good sign, but it should be noted that the news doesn’t necessarily mean he’s especially close to a return. Given the fact that Varsho’s calling card is his defense, it seems fair to expect the Blue Jays to keep him on the shelf until he’s ready to return not just to the lineup, but also to the field. With lower half injuries like the one Varsho is dealing with, it’s not uncommon for players to be ready to hit before they’re ready to field, and MLB.com notes that the Blue Jays have not yet even provided a firm timeline for his return to action.
What percentage of injury related pitcher post on MLBTR are about Verlander, scherzer, and kershaw?
They’re all future HOFers so why not.
This article is WAY too bullish/enthusiastic re: Scherzer being able to contribute anything, even if his thumb is all better. Because he is a broken down old man, so if not his thumb, believe me, it will be something else. Just not a wise signing to begin with. (Hey BJ fans, trivia time, who leads your starting lineup in WAR for the season thus far ??? Is it the $500 million dollar man??? Is it the mighty Bo Bichette??? Nope!!!!! If you guessed second baseman Ernie Clement at 1.9 WAR you would be the winner of one free meal at the Shatkins All-You-Can Eat Loonie Dog Buffet.)
Dam. I thought for sure it was Myles Straw. Ernie Clement has the most baseball sounding name ever. Sounds like an old turn of the century St Louis Browns second baseman. And I knew it wasn’t Myles Straw btw.
Weighted on defense. Thats a big reason why Clement has a high WAR, and why the Gimenez trade wasn’t necessary.
That is why Varsho has a decent WAR every year despite being an empty hitter with some pop. Jays need Varsho healthy to trade him and his escalating contract, as he’s proving he’s not needed on the Jays.
Id reason it was the plan all along to rest him until mid season.
No chance. If that were true the Jays would have had more arms stocked in AAA to replace that 5th spot.
Possibly, but makes sense, a weird thumb injury that shows nonstructural damage on the MRI, a 44yr old starter who may only be good for 120 innings
Except that Scherzer was not only built up to prepare for opening day, he pitched the third game of the season. Nothing in the Jays preparation said that the plan was for Scherzer to rest until midseason.
BJ fans? Who isn’t?!
Oh you meant Blue Jays.
The Scherzer signing was a weird one for a team with the lack of starting pitching depth the Jays had coming into the season. I guess at the time of the signing, they had a couple of starting pitchers on the 40 man who weren’t yet injured. Although it was only a few weeks after the Scherzer signing that Macko had his surgery so you do wonder if it was known he wasn’t quite right. Bloss pitched in the minors this year before his injury. Still, that’s only a couple of guys who hadn’t really convinced anyone they were ready to be major leaguers yet. Scherzer neither represented the ceiling raising guy that a poorly projected rotation looked like it needed nor the durability in the back end that a team with a lack of minor league depth needed. He’s a floor raiser if healthy but the injury risk leaves him without any floor whatsoever.
It appears Bowden went on to make his thirteenth start the day this article was written. He went 3 1/3 innings. Allowed 5 hits and 4 runs. He walked 5 batters! Struck out two. And allowed 2 HRs.
His ERA rose from a 5.84 to a 6.12.
This is immediately after the manager threw support behind him and said they needed him.
If this is all he can do after that the Blue Jays need to get another pitcher or two on the roster ahead of this guy. There has to be some way of landing something better than Bowden.
Maybe the jays can trade with the Jankees for Yarbough. He just gave up 8 runs in 4 innings. The bum.
Still better than Francis though.
Lauer and Scherzer should be in the rotation. Francis and Turnbull should be in the bullpen.
Can someone tell me what a “side session” is ?
Hear it all the time. No idea what it is.
A light bullpen session that pitchers will typically take part in while in between starts. It’s usually off to the side or in the actual bullpen while other practice activities take place on the field.
Thanks
I think it means cheating on your wife.
“We need him….because my boss and his team didn’t acquire pitching depth in the offseason, or develop much over the last 9 years”.
At this point Bowden is safe. An opener might help. Glad the offseason plan Bowden had to gain more velocity really helped improve his game.
The writer says, “…with Jose Berrios, Bowden Francis, and recently-added Spencer Turnbull bringing up the rear.”
Jose is a ton better than the other two and doesn’t deserve being described like that. It should have been, “Gausman, Bassit, Berrios up front with the other two bringing up the rear.”
I didn’t get the framing of that statement either. Gausman, Berrios, and Bassitt have always been the big three in various orders since they were put together. For the season to this point, Bassitt is the best, with a ERA+ of 117, while Berrios is second with a 113 and Gausman a 107.
It’s really Gausman bringing up the rear, if the writer insists on putting one of those guys in the back group (though none should be).
On his past few teams, he knows the training staff better than he knows his teammates
He’s actually one of the most durable pitchers this century. He’s at the tail end of a remarkable baseball career.
He should pull an Eckersly. Become a closer or retire.
So they’re just gonna accept the L every 5 days and allow Francis to go out there and just get shelled. Makes sense