標籤: pitching

This is another blow to the battered and bruised pitching staff of the Toronto Blue Jays. As they await final word on the next steps for injured pitcher Jose Berrios, manager John Schneider says “surgery is on the table.”

“At this point it is an option,” Schneider said Friday. “We’re just trying to figure out if this is the path we’re going down.”

Although Berrios met with renowned elbow surgeon Dr. Keith Meister earlier this week, the manager says as far as he knows, there is no ligament damage involved. Of course, Schneider is not a doctor, nor does he play doctors on TV (or in Clubhouse).

However, he did mention “loose bodies”, as noted by renowned author Keegan Matheson. It seems like we’re still talking about the stress fracture that Berrios suffered during spring training with no ill effects. But he has had some elbow pain with low velocity in his last two rehab starts.

“He’s trying to make the best decision now and for the long term,” Schneider said, indicating that the 31-year-old pitcher will have the final say on which path to take. “I think he’s been in a little back-and-forth on this, and just wants to get it right.”

Berrios’ surgery decision looming, and contract decision after season

This is an even more important decision for his future because Berrios has opted out after the season. The seven-year, $131 million contract he signed with Toronto in 2021 will pay him $24 million apiece for two more years. Unless he decides to opt out and become a free agent. But as his injuries continue to worsen, it is becoming a controversial issue.

What makes it even more difficult for Berrios is that he has been the picture of health throughout his major league career until this season. He didn’t miss a start for six consecutive years (32 starts per season) until 2025… when he missed just twice. In this era of pitcher injuries and Tommy John surgeries, this is truly a remarkable accomplishment.

But in the ultimate proof that no pitcher can escape injury forever these days, Berrios faces a career-defining moment any day now.

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.