Blue Jays vs. Twins: Scherzer’s Return to the Mound

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays faced the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon, completing nine innings in a swift 2 hours and 24 minutes. That’s roughly the duration of a car ride from the Blue Jays’ spring training facility in Dunedin to the Twins’ venue in Fort Myers.

Max Scherzer, entering the 20th season of his professional career with aspirations for the Hall of Fame, could have logged 62 pitches on a mound closer to home. However, with major-league hitters lined up in Fort Myers, he opted for a challenging test that extended beyond his injured right thumb.

“It’s also mental,” Scherzer remarked. “Competing against major-league hitters is different from facing minor-league ones.”

In a matchup against the Twins’ starting lineup, Scherzer encountered the competitive environment he was seeking. In the fourth inning, Byron Buxton fought him off with seven consecutive foul balls. The 10-pitch exchange, all strikes, culminated in the following sequence:

• Curveball (foul)
• Fastball (foul)
• Slider (foul)
• Cutter (swinging third strike)

Scherzer successfully struck out four batters in four scoreless innings, allowing just two singles and a walk, while throwing 47 strikes among his pitches. He utilized a variety of five pitch types, including those used against Buxton and a changeup.

His fastballs clocked between 91 and 94 mph — not his peak performance, but still impressive. This is a pitcher with a historical strikeout rate of 10.7 per nine innings, the highest in MLB for those with over 2,000 innings. Scherzer is not one to pitch cautiously.

As Scherzer approaches his 41st birthday this July, his performance on Saturday justified the Blue Jays’ $15.5 million investment in him for this season. The primary concern remains his thumb injury, which Scherzer himself acknowledges as a significant hurdle.

“It’s a little issue that’s a major concern,” Scherzer admitted. “I’m frustrated because I know I can still pitch at a high level. The thumb is the hurdle I need to overcome to play to my potential. I’m focused on recovering since any setback can lead to greater complications.”

As he builds up to 75 or 80 pitches for his initial start of the regular season, Scherzer remains cautiously optimistic. However, he knows that the pain could resurface, revealing itself only after he finishes. He described the sensation as akin to tendinitis, manageable once he gets warmed up.

For a pitcher, the thumb is critical, serving as the rudder for the mechanics of each throw and initiating vital kinetic chains throughout the arm. Scherzer’s thumb issue poses a risk to his overall arm health, as it can quickly escalate from minor discomfort to significant injury.

Scherzer explained further, “It’s not arthritis; it involves the CMC joint and the MCP joint. My grip on pitches puts strain on my thumb, which can become inflamed and lead to nerve problems, potentially affecting other areas, including my shoulder.” This thumb issue is crucial, as it could affect his long-term performance.

Though Scherzer has an impressive record with 3,407 strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards, and two World Series titles, his focus remains on contributing to the team’s success. “I want to win the World Series. Celebrating with my teammates is my ultimate goal,” he declared. This season presents a significant opportunity for him.