Max Scherzer Set for Toronto Blue Jays Debut This Saturday

TORONTO, Canada — Max Scherzer is slated to make his much-anticipated debut for the Toronto Blue Jays this Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles, despite recent concerns regarding a right thumb injury.

The 40-year-old right-hander struggled with the thumb ailment during spring training, which raised questions about his readiness for the season opener. However, manager John Schneider alleviated those worries on Wednesday, confirming that Scherzer has made significant progress. “Still going in the right direction with how he’s feeling each day,” Schneider said. “He’s going to get off the mound here this afternoon and, assuming all goes well, he’ll be ready to roll Saturday.”

In Grapefruit League play, Scherzer ended with a 1-0 record and an impressive 1.38 ERA in four starts, averaging 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His performance has been particularly noteworthy given he signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Blue Jays in February, following a season where he posted a 3.95 ERA for the Texas Rangers.

Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, previously faced injuries that limited him to just nine starts in 2024. He enters his debut with a career record of 216-112, a 3.16 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.078. Notably, Scherzer has historically performed well against the Orioles, boasting a 7-4 record with a 3.46 ERA when matched against them.

The Blue Jays’ fans are eager for Scherzer’s debut, which will occur during the third game of a four-game series at Rogers Centre. First pitch is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. ET on Saturday. Toronto fans are expected to provide a warm welcome for the veteran pitcher as he takes the mound for the first time in a Blue Jays uniform.

“SATURDAY: A Hall of Famer makes his #BlueJays debut,” the team announced on social media, encouraging fans to come out for the highly-anticipated game.