Sometimes, a pitcher going on the injured list is a big blow to a team. But let's admit that sometimes, that's not such a bad thing. The latter is the case for Toronto Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer. He is hitting the IL with "arm and ankle injuries."
Truth be told, forearm tendinitis has been hindering Scherzer since his second start, and it shows.
The 41-year-old has struggled to a 9.64 ERA in his five starts so far this season. In his last four starts, in fact, over 12.2 innings, he has surrendered 19 earned runs, allowing six homers, seven walks and only six strikeouts.
“All I can say is that I was not right. [Pitching coach] peat [Walker] "He was right there, and we both saw it," Scherzer said, according to MLB.com. We didn't feel like I was in a good place to move forward. Based on the calendar, here in April, it's the beginning of the season and that's the time where I can be right.
Scherzer impresses IL with two historic achievements
The IL stint will leave him hanging around for some time in search of two historic numbers. Scherzer was one strikeout away from 3,500 in his career, and was only 11 away from passing Walter Johnson for 10th on the all-time strikeout list.
And so, while the battered and bruised Blue Jays rotation is bringing back one of its walking wounded in Trey Yesways, another is headed to the hospital. Scherzer Cody Ponce (out for the year), Jose Berrios (close to a return), and Shane Bieber (still going slowly, recovering from elbow and arm problems) have been ruled out of the lineup.
The Jays have recalled right-hander Chase Lee from Triple-A Buffalo to take Mad Max's spot on the roster. Lee has an impressive 1.32 ERA in 13 innings out of the bullpen with the Bison, but has a bit of a control problem. The 27-year-old issued 9 walks against 12 strikeouts. This leaves him with 1.42 WHIP.
Lee is in his first year in the Jays organization, after making his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers last season. He posted a 4.10 ERA in 37 innings in Detroit last season.
The Yesves, last year's rookie of the year, will make their long-awaited season debut on Tuesday night after completing their rehab assignment. He had been out since spring training with a right shoulder injury.
