Blue Jays Hit With Critical Injury Update After $15.5M Veteran Suffers Scare Ahead of Yankees Clash

The Toronto Blue Jays desperately needed a win on Sunday (August 31, 2025) to stop the series sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers after losing 2-7 and 1-4, and they got one. But the 8-4 victory came with a scare when veteran ace Max Scherzer was forced to leave the game after just throwing 67 pitches in four innings, giving up a season-high nine hits and four runs.

The bullpen pitched a perfect five innings to secure the win, but the question remains: What happened to Mad Max?

Manager John Schneider confirmed the reason for the early exit was “upper back tightness” immediately after the game. Scherzer himself agreed with the manager’s choice after the game. “Schneids made the right move to pull me in that situation. It was just something I had to deal with. I wasn’t the guy today, but the rest of the team picked me up. That’s the great news here,” Scherzer said via MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson.

Then, on Monday, the clearest update arrived via Hazel Mae’s tweet. She wrote, “Max Scherzer felt the back tightness pregame.” She added a quote from Scherzer that said, “It was more dull than sharp, so that’s the good news.. just muscular.. I don’t think it’s going to be a long-term thing.” She also confirmed Scherzer is expected to make his next scheduled start against the Yankees.

Max Scherzer felt the back tightness pregame.
Thought he could “heat it up, and get it going,” but the discomfort remained in 2nd

“It was more dull than sharp, so that’s the good news.. just muscular.. I don’t think it’s going to be a long term thing”

Next sked start @ NYY

— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) August 31, 2025

The Jays signed the three-time Cy Young winner to a one-year, $15.5 million deal last winter. But his tenure started with a major setback when he left his team’s debut just after three innings against Baltimore on March 29 with right thumb inflammation. Then he missed nearly three full months and finally returned on June 25.

Since his return before this recent back issue, he went 5-2 with a solid 3.82 ERA in 12 starts and had pitched six or more innings in six straight starts. He was particularly dominant throughout August, posting a fantastic 2.61 ERA with 22 strikeouts with 5 wins. And after these recent outings, Scherzer’s stats sit at 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP for Toronto.

And if Schrezer is not fully available ahead of the Yankees series, his absence will worry the Blue Jays and their fans as the Yankees are just trailing a slim margin of three games and were on a 7-game winning streak of their own before last night’s loss against the White Sox. But still, Toronto’s rotation depth keeps worries mostly in check for now.

Rotation depth keeps Blue Jays calm — for now

The Jays can lean on Shane Bieber, whom they acquired at the trade deadline. Bieber has been stellar with a 2.38 ERA and zero walks over 11 innings in his two starts. The veteran trio of Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, and Chris Bassitt provides consistency. And then there’s Eric Lauer, who is having a 3.21 ERA and an 8-2 win-loss record over his 21 appearances.

Sep 6, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Marcus Semien (10) is greeted by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The offense, meanwhile, is one of the most powerful in all of baseball right now. Bo Bichette leads the charge with a .306 average, 172 hits, and 16 home runs this year. Superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slashes .288 with a .384 on-base percentage, delivering 21 homers and 74 RBIs. Veteran George Springer is leading the team with 24 homers. And the combination of Alejandro Kirk, Matt Chapman, and Daulton Varsho can crush any pitching lineup any day.

That powerful roster has put the Blue Jays in first place in the AL West with a 79-58 record. They head to Cincinnati for three games before a crucial three-game series against the Yankees next weekend. In that way, the timing of Scherzer’s injury could not be more critical, as the Yankees are just 3 games behind them in the division. So for now, all eyes will be on Scherzer, hoping he is ready for the biggest start of the season.

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