Max Scherzer Says Forearm Issue Still Delays Ramp-Up

Max Scherzer is still not moving toward a return at the pace Toronto wants. The Blue Jays pitcher said a confusing forearm tendinitis issue is keeping him from ramping back up, even after an MRI showed no strains and no inflammation per se.

Tropicana Field update

Scherzer spoke to reporters at Tropicana Field on Wednesday morning after playing catch, and his own description was blunt: "I can still tell there's something off in my arm". He added, "My concern is more on this forearm. I should be ramping back up."

That leaves Toronto waiting on a clearer plan for a pitcher who was supposed to be building toward game action again. Manager John Schneider said, "It's kind of cloudy right now," and added, "There's no real firm timetable as to when he's going to really start getting after it. I think we'll know more in a couple of days."

Doctors, MRI and next steps

Scherzer said he has already been talking to other pitchers to help sort through the issue, and now he plans to widen the search. "I'm trying to get as much information as I can right now and figure out what the next step should be," he said. "We're going to burn some phone calls on figuring out what to do, what's the proper way to handle this, treat it, and how to get out of this."

The forearm problem is the part that has kept the three-time Cy Young Award winner from resuming his buildup, even as the left ankle inflammation that helped send him to the injured list last week has improved considerably. Scherzer said, "I’m not worried about that long-term whatsoever," which shifts the focus squarely back to the arm.

Blue Jays rotation depth

Toronto is already covering for missing arms. Patrick Corbin and Eric Lauer are rounding out the rotation behind Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage while Scherzer, José Berríos and Shane Bieber are all sidelined at the same time.

There was at least one sign of progress elsewhere in the group. Bieber threw a two-up bullpen session at Tropicana Field on Wednesday and is expected to progress to facing hitters soon, while the Blue Jays anticipate more clarity on Berríos on Friday after Tuesday's MRI on his right elbow. For Scherzer, the next move is less certain and more personal: more doctors, more answers, and a return timetable that still has not started to take shape.