Scherzer dealing with right lat soreness: '100% related to the thumb

Max Scherzer's debut with the Toronto Blue Jays was not the showcase it should've been.

After throwing just 45 pitches in Saturday's tilt against the Baltimore Orioles, the two-time World Series champion was done after three innings because of right lat soreness, the Blue Jays announced on X.

For Scherzer, there was no mystery as to what led to the soreness.

"Oh, 100%. Yeah, this is 100% related to the thumb," Scherzer said to the media following Saturday's 9-5 loss to Baltimore. "My shoulder, everything's compensating because of that thumb."

Scherzer's issues with his right thumb began during spring training when the injury, which has been bugging him since late 2023, began flaring up, as reported by MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.

Despite signs of a turnaround when gripping the ball, Scherzer emphasized the concern with the rest of his arm.

"Even though I was able to kind of grip the ball maybe a bit better today, I still have discomfort in my thumb," said Scherzer. "My arm is making adjustments because of that. And that's a recipe for disaster."

Should Scherzer spend time on the injured list, the Blue Jays will likely turn to right-hander Yariel Rodriguez to come out of the bullpen and take Scherzer’s spot in the rotation. The second-year pitcher posted a 1-8 record with a 4.47 ERA through 21 appearances in 2024.

The Blue Jays wrap up their opening four-game series against the Orioles on Sunday at Rogers Centre.