Max Scherzer threw just two innings and 36 pitches in a World Series rematch
UPDATE: The story has been updated at 11:53 p.m. ET with information Scherzer's exit was due to right forearm tendinitis.
The Toronto Blue Jays' injury concerns could have just gone from bad to disastrous.
In a game one of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, a rematch from the classic seven-game World Series last October between the two teams, veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer exited the game after two innings. The three-time Cy Young winner threw just 36 pitches in the outing.
There were no updates on Scherzer's condition at the time of his exit.
Scherzer's velocity was down before his exit. According to a post on "X" from Foul Territory, Scherzer's exit was due to due right forearm tendinitis. Jays manager John Schneider said he believed Scherzer's expected to make his next start.
The Blue Jays brought Scherzer back this offseason on a one-year, $3 million deal. At the time Scherzer was signed, right-handers Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios were all out for various periods due to respective injuries.
Yesavage (who's currently on a rehab assignment with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays) was dealing with a right shoulder impingement, Bieber was dealing with right forearm fatigue and Berrios had a stress fracture in his throwing elbow.
Free-agent signing Cody Ponce also went down for a significant period of time due to an ACL sprain he suffered against the Colorado Rockies on March 30.
With the four starters down, Toronto signed two-time All-Star Patrick Corbin to a one-year deal. He recently had an impressive start with Dunedin. He was initially expected to get one-to-two more starts before being brought up to the major league roster.
If Scherzer's early exit is indicative of a bigger issue for the 41-year-old, eight-time All-Star, then the team will likely bring Corbin up sooner than expected.
If Scherzer is unable to make his next start and Corbin is brought up, it would give the Blue Jays a four-man rotation of Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Corbin and Eric Lauer. That would likely mean Toronto would be in the market to sign or trade for another pitcher, or call up a prospect.
If Toronto goes the in-house route, there's limited options. Both of the organization's top starting pitching prospects in Triple-A, Ricky Tiedemann and Jake Bloss, are currently on the injured list (Tiedemann 7-day, Bloss 60-day).
On top of the pitching injuries, whoever does comprise the patchwork starting rotation, the Blue Jays will also be without starting catcher and 2025 All-Star Alejandro Kirk, who suffered a fracture thumb in a recent game against the Chicago White Sox was placed on the injured list.
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