Blue Jays' Max Scherzer Sends Strong Message After Landing on 15-Day IL
The 2026 MLB season hasn't gone the way Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer would have liked. The 41-year-old has appeared in just six games this season while dealing with a handful of different injuries.
He was first placed on the 15-day injured list on April 27 due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. The right-hander missed a substantial amount of time and didn't start another game until June 10, as the Blue Jays lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Unfortunately for the 19-year veteran, he is once again set to miss some time. On Wednesday, before making a start against the Boston Red Sox, Toronto announced Scherzer is again being put on the 15-day IL, this time for back spasms.
It's yet another bump in the road for the Blue Jays. Despite the injuries piling up, though, the eight-time All-Star doesn't believe he's done. When talking to the media after the announcement, Scherzer made it clear that his confidence hasn't gone anywhere.
"I absolutely have the utmost belief that I can be out there, I can be pitching, I can be helping the team win," Scherzer said, according to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon. "Nothing that has happened has changed that."
Max Scherzer said it's just rest for his spasm, which popped up on the weekend. Been a frustrating year, but:
— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) June 17, 2026
"I absolutely have the utmost belief that I can be out there, I can be pitching, I can be helping the team win. Nothing that has happened has changed that."#BlueJays
Even when healthy, though, Scherzer has struggled on the mound. In six starts, he's accumulated 22 innings, a 10.23 ERA, a 44 ERA+ and a 1.727 WHIP. His opponents are slashing .303/.382/.629 with a 1.012 OPS.
With the three-time Cy Young Award winner battling to stay on the field, the Blue Jays will hope he can make a speedy recovery and deliver on his statement.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 4:28 PM.