RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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SportsMoney Blue Jays Send Scherzer Message With Season In Crisis By Peter Chawaga ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball. Follow Author Jul 27, 2026, 06:00am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Toronto Blue Jays face a deepening pitching crisis after veteran starter Patrick Corbin landed on the injured list, intensifying pressure to expedite Max Scherzer's return. Manager John Schneider indicated Scherzer is now "a little bit more needed" following the latest setback. Despite a history of injuries and recent thumb injections, Scherzer showed promising form with five no-hit innings in his Triple-A rehab start. This encouraging performance could accelerate his comeback, even as the Blue Jays languish in last place in the AL East. With the trade deadline looming, Scherzer's swift return might also serve as an audition for potential trade suitors, as the struggling club considers offloading veteran assets amid a season in crisis.
The Toronto Blue Jays' pitching depth has taken yet another hit amid a season of disappointing healthy setbacks for the club.
And as the team continues searching for answers with the trade deadline looming, every rotation decision has taken on added significance. Now it seems the team could be desperate to rush future Hall of Fame starter Max Scherzer back from his own injury with time running out to get back into the playoff hunt.
Last week, the Blue Jays lost veteran starter Patrick Corbin to the injury list , leaving the team with fewer experienced options capable of providing innings. Shortly after that injury news surfaced, the team indicated that it might look to rush Scherzer’s rehab to fill the gap.
"Patrick Corbin's injury and Blue Jays lack of length options could change calculus of Scherzer's return,” Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling reported . “It's possible he foregoes another rehab outing and makes his next start in (the) majors. John Schneider says Scherzer could be 'a little bit more needed than he was (before Corbin’s injury).'"
Though the Blue Jays might have little choice after losing another pitcher to injury, that return would mark a pretty quick turnaround for Scherzer, who has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons. But his latest outing was an encouraging start that he could be ready.
"Despite having his current rehab stint paused after needing three injections in his right thumb over the All-Star break, Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer delivered a vintage performance in his return to the mound with Triple-A Buffalo,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson noted last week. “Scherzer made his third rehab start of his current ramp-up … for the Bisons, continuing to trend back to Toronto’s Major League rotation after hitting the injured list with a back injury in mid-June."
That performance could be key to the Blue Jays’ decision on Scherzer’s timeline. While Toronto had initially appeared willing to remain patient with his buildup, the circumstances surrounding the rotation have shifted dramatically.
After surging to the American League pennant last year, the Blue Jays reinforced their roster over the winter and appeared poised for another deep playoff run.
Instead, the team has encountered numerous significant injuries and performance regressions throughout the roster. The team has been in last place in the American League East division and might have little choice but to offload veterans on expiring contracts before the trade deadline.
If Scherzer does return this week, it could be as an audition for a trade suitor.
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