Max Scherzer lands on IL with back spasms, but Jays could get Shane Bieber back soon
BOSTON — The Toronto Blue Jays placed veteran starter Max Scherzer on the injured list with back spasms on Wednesday. The move, which came hours before Scherzer’s scheduled start against the Red Sox, sent the 41-year-old to the IL for a second time this year amid a dreadful start to his 2026 season.
Scherzer has a 10.23 ERA in 22 innings this year, allowing nine homers. He’s been on the IL twice, recovering from four ailments — thumb, forearm, back and ankle. He’s made just one start in the last seven weeks, lasting 3 1/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The natural question, with Scherzer in his 19th MLB season, is if the future Hall of Famer can still help the Jays win? Scherzer, at the very least, is confident he can.
“I absolutely have the utmost belief that I can be out there,” Scherzer said. “I can be pitching, I can be helping the team win. Nothing that has happened has changed any course of that. Just got to get through this.”
The spasms arrived on Monday morning, the righty said, when Scherzer woke up in Boston. He went in on Toronto’s off day to get treatment but couldn’t recover enough to start for the Jays on Wednesday. Toronto called up right-hander Chad Dallas in place of Scherzer, a prospect who can contribute to a bullpen game against the Sox.
After Scherzer’s latest outing, five runs allowed against Philadelphia, Jays manager John Schneider said he wanted to see what the righty looked like after “some consistent work.” This latest injury, however, will prevent that consistency for at least another week as Scherzer rests his back. If the ailing back forces him to miss more time, he could lose his built up stamina and have to undergo another rehab assignment. That, essentially, would be a full reset.
“I’m frustrated as heck,” Scherzer said. “I wanted to get in that rhythm, I wanted to be out there pitching, get going, because my arm feels like it’s in a really great spot right now.”
With Scherzer on the IL, the Jays aren’t forced with any imminent decision. They’ll simply wait for the veteran to recover. Toronto can turn to youngsters like Spencer Miles or Dallas to chew innings, or, with Shane Bieber reaching 80 pitches in his Triple-A rehab outing on Wednesday, they can just slide another former Cy Young winner into that rotation spot going forward. Bieber will join the Jays in Chicago this weekend before determining next steps, though there’s a good chance he’s ready for his 2026 debut.
It’s hard to judge Scherzer’s 2026 campaign, Schneider said, with the sporadic starts and injuries. Scherzer has pitched effectively at times with the Jays, especially during the playoffs last year, but there has been a lot of soreness and struggle between those highs.
Eventually, though, Scherzer will have to back up his confidence on the mound. In order to stick in Toronto’s rotation, he’ll have to stay healthy and find results. That’s how Scherzer can help Toronto win.
“I just have another thing I got to deal with and get over,” Scherzer said. “These things happen when you’re 41 years old and trying to pitch.”