Scherzer's Road Back: Blue Jays Ace Throws Again

Max Scherzer, the 41-year-old ace the Blue Jays brought in to anchor their rotation, threw a bullpen session yesterday as part of his recovery from forearm tendinitis. It's a measured step forward after weeks of uncertainty about whether the future Hall of Famer could return to form this season.

The injury has sidelined Scherzer since early May, forcing the team to shuffle its pitching plans at a critical moment in the season. His next test comes Wednesday in New York—another bullpen session that, if successful, could lead to batting practice and eventually a return to game action.

At 41, Scherzer's durability has always been part of his brand. He's thrown over 200 innings in a season as recently as 2021. But forearm issues are notoriously tricky in baseball; they can linger, flare up unexpectedly, or require extended rest. The Blue Jays aren't rushing him back, which is the right call for a pitcher of his age and pedigree.

The timing matters. Toronto's playoff window is finite, and losing Scherzer for any significant stretch weakens a rotation that was already being tested. But the organization seems confident enough to take it slow here—a sign that the early reports are encouraging. If he can return to even 80 percent of his peak, the offense has someone to lean on when the pressure mounts.