Article: Max Scherzer’s Dumb Thumb: A Worrisome Injury Update

[Davy Andrews]

Max Scherzer is dealing with minor day-to-day thumb pain, but that doesn't mean it's a minor problem.

“It’s day-to-day,” said Max Scherzer. “It’s really stupid, that’s what it is.” While those comments could apply to any number of things these days, Scherzer was describing his his right thumb to the Toronto Sun’s Rob Longley. It’s frustrating, as Scherzer has looked excellent during spring training, flashing improved stuff and striking out nearly half the batters he’s faced. However, it turns out that this exact issue has derailed Scherzer’s seasons in the past, which should concern Blue Jays fans a great deal. Pitching is such a specific, strange skill that even small injuries like blisters or fingernail issues can completely sideline a player. Scherzer’s dealing with thumb pain, but he’s not messing around, figuring it out now rather than waiting until it gets more serious. Unfortunately, what the pain means for the immediate future of both Scherzer and the Blue Jays is by no means certain.

The thumb issue cropped up after Scherzer faced the Tigers on March 8. He struggled to recover and was scratched from his expected start on Thursday. "That's been the issue with this whole thumb injury," Scherzer told reporters. "It's nothing during the game or after the game. It's the next day. I just don't recover well." Forty-year-olds around the world can relate. Scherzer underwent an MRI that came back clean and he pitched on Saturday, though not in a game. He then faced minor leaguers in a simulated game on Monday, throwing 47 pitches. Right now, we’re waiting to hear how the recovery goes, and he’s due to throw a side session, likely today or tomorrow.

“My thumb hurts. It just hurts to grip the ball,” Scherzer told reporters. “The critical thing I’ve learned over the years here is that your thumb is absolutely critical to your arm health. Unfortunately, this is what I’ve been dealing with since 2023.” That last sentence is the scary one. Scherzer is 40 years old and has hit the IL five times in the last three seasons. “The danger of pitching with this is that you could sustain a shoulder injury,” he explained. That’s how pitching tends to work; compensating for a small injury can throw your mechanics out of whack, hurting your performance and causing a bigger injury down the line.

“Just soreness,” explained manager John Schneider, trying to make it clear that Scherzer wasn’t dealing with nerve pain. “Just one of those things that happens when you get a little older.” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson indicated that the thumb issue, through its downstream effects, is what caused Scherzer’s teres major strain in 2023. And Scherzer said pretty clearly that although he’s not dealing with nerve pain yet, he’s afraid it will head in that direction. “It’s similar. It hasn’t manifested out into the nerve pain yet, but that’s why I’m working with the hand specialist, the doctors, the trainers," he said. "How can we move forward and not have this blow up into something worse?” That’s a sobering realization for Blue Jays fans. Even if you understood that Scherzer was an older pitcher who might be more susceptible to injuries, you no doubt hoped that by signing him, the Blue Jays felt confident that he was past his recent issues. He’s not. He’s been dealing with this same thumb issue for years now, and it’s already ruined his season once. That’s not good.

In an attempt to avoid suffering that fate again, Scherzer worked on grip strength and thumb strength during the offseason. He’s still dealing with thumb pain when he gets to 50 pitches. In case you’re wondering, Scherzer has reached the 50-pitch mark in 452 of his 466 career appearances. That’s 97%, and it means that he can’t really be Max Scherzer, or a starting pitcher at all, without the ability to get to 50 pitches.

Moreover, at this point in spring training, pitchers are supposed to be ramping up their workloads for the regular season. Right now, his readiness for the start of the season is in question. If he feels good enough to pitch over the weekend, and if he feels good after that all-important appearance, then he should be back on track. His target for that outing would be 65 pitches. Assuming he’s the team’s fifth starter, he'd make his first appearance on April 1 against the Nationals, his former team. However, this doesn’t really seem like a time to make those assumptions, and focusing on Scherzer’s ability to pitch on Saturday seems like it’s missing the bigger point.

Even if all goes well during Scherzer’s current recovery, then his side session, then his start on Saturday – and that’s a lot of ifs – it certainly sounds like Scherzer and the Blue Jays will have to worry about his thumb all season long. So while it may be day-to-day, it’s an injury that’s been affecting Scherzer for years and we shouldn’t expect it to go away any time soon. And while it may just be some stupid, small thing, we all know how stupid, small things can end up causing major problems.

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[Mike LeSage]

"Forty-year-olds around the world can relate."

That hit me right in the lower back.

[Stangstag]

Yeah i think we can expect Scherzer to be battling these types of nagging injuries all year long. He’s in his 40s, its not going to get better, it is what it is. He’s spent the last 2-3 years battling injuries like this.

This is what the Jays signed up for.

As long as we can avoid a major injury that keeps him out for months, we should consider that a success. When he’s on the field, he’s still a serviceable mid-rotation guy at worst.

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, Stangstag said:

Yeah i think we can expect Scherzer to be battling these types of nagging injuries all year long. He’s in his 40s, its not going to get better, it is what it is. He’s spent the last 2-3 years battling injuries like this.

This is what the Jays signed up for.

As long as we can avoid a major injury that keeps him out for months, we should consider that a success. When he’s on the field, he’s still a serviceable mid-rotation guy at worst.

What's the over/under on a successful Scherzer season? 19.5 starts?

[Stangstag]

59 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

What's the over/under on a successful Scherzer season? 19.5 starts?

Personally my benchmark of a successful season for him is 100 innings. Plus availability during the playoffs.

so lets say 15ish starts.

[BatFlip]

7 hours ago, Stangstag said:

Personally my benchmark of a successful season for him is 100 innings. Plus availability during the playoffs.

so lets say 15ish starts.

You're right on the money on Scherzer.  Everyone should have been expecting nagging injuries and limited innings from this legend.  

[Spanky99]

Quote

That’s a sobering realization for Blue Jays fans. Even if you understood that Scherzer was an older pitcher who might be more susceptible to injuries, you no doubt hoped that by signing him, the Blue Jays felt confident that he was past his recent issues. He’s not. He’s been dealing with this same thumb issue for years now, and it’s already ruined his season once. That’s not good.

This right here was my point the other day, the Jays had to know about this lingering issue, is 15M really worth this risk? Sheeeeit... I hope so.🙏