Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer is heading to Dallas on Friday for a cortisone shot in his back to help alleviate left-side discomfort, manager John Schneider said Thursday ahead of the team's series opener against the Texas Rangers, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.
Scherzer threw a bullpen session Thursday before the update was announced. He is expected to return to Toronto over the weekend, with the team planning to reassess his status from there. The injection marks another setback in what has been a turbulent season for Scherzer, the 41-year-old right-hander.
Scherzer was placed on the 15-day injured list with back spasms, just a week after the Blue Jays activated him from a different IL stint that kept him out more than six weeks due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
In his first return from that first absence, Scherzer allowed five runs across 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, a performance that came with a silver lining. He struck out the first batter he faced, Kyle Schwarber, for the 3,500th strikeout of his career.
On the season, Scherzer is 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA across six starts. The Blue Jays have also been without starting pitcher Jose Berrios, as well as Shane Bieber, who has fortunately been activated from the IL on Tuesday.
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Scherzer is still confident in his ability to play, telling Mitch Bannon of The Athletic last week, "I absolutely have the utmost belief that I can be out there," Scherzer said. "I can be pitching."
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