Max Scherzer heads to 15-day IL as Blue Jays injury woes continue

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scherzer-max/C2omJYWm/"]Scherzer[/a], 41, has a brutal 9.24 earned run average through five starts this season, giving up a total of 16 runs in his last three starts alone. [/p][p]The team called up right-hander [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lee-chase/2kSvjcCP/"]Chase Lee[/a] to take Scherzer's roster spot. Lee, 26, made his MLB debut last season for the Tigers, tossing a 4.10 ERA in 17 games of relief pitching. [/p][p]This season in Triple-A, Lee is tossing a fantastic 1.32 ERA through 13.2 innings of work, giving up just two earned runs on 11 hits with 12 strikeouts and nine walks.[/p][embed guid="a869607b-80b7-4ec7-b065-a83bc1d83503" url="https://x.com/BlueJays/status/2048833351801323935?s=20https://x.com/BlueJays/status/2048833351801323935?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]He had previously left his start on April 6th against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-dodgers/nwPDBpVc/"]Los Angeles Dodgers[/a] with forearm issues after giving up eight runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. [/p][p]Scherzer signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-blue-jays/zcDLaZ3b/"]Blue Jays[/a] after being part of their World Series squad last season, which didn't fare much better. He tossed a career-worst 5.19 ERA in 17 starts.[/p][p]It was the first time since 2011 that Scherzer finished a single season with an ERA above 4.00.[/p][p]The future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young Award winner is just one of a long list of injury problems the Blue Jays have faced this season, especially with pitching. [/p][p]Starting pitcher Trey Yasavage is about to come off his 15-day IL stint, while fellow SP [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/berrios-jose/zLzfvERo/"]Jose Berrios[/a] is still continuing rehab assignments in the minors following his time on the 15-day IL. [/p][p]Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-yimi/AR49RRTN/"]Yimi Garcia[/a], who was placed on the 60-day IL, will begin to throw batting practice this week. Other starting pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ponce-cody/OhJmrtFC/"]Cody Ponce[/a] was ruled out for the 2025 season after tearing his ACL trying to play an infield hit. [/p][p]Ponce had just recently made his first appearance in the MLB since 2021. [/p][embed guid="efa98de1-9b89-4877-8e80-924473cb34e6" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2038757219655663735?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Other players on the IL for the Blue Jays include starting pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bieber-shane/YROrLEqT/"]Shane Bieber[/a] (60-day), outfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/santander-anthony/Sh8gGOQf/"]Anthony Santander[/a] (60-day), infielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/springer-george/EFwCTpht/"]George Springer[/a] (10-day), catcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kirk-alejandro/8ApqJBel/"]Alejandro Kirk[/a] (10-day), outfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukes-nathan/IwMOG7hG/"]Nathan Lukes[/a] (10-day), and third baseman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barger-addison/MZrUCBL0/"]Addison Barger[/a] (10-day). [/p][p]Toronto are currently fourth place out of five in the American League East division with a 12-15 record heading into Monday's matchup against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-red-sox/zaXTinF3/"]Boston Red Sox[/a] (11-17), who rank last in the same division. [/p]