Scherzer exits 1st start with Blue Jays because of right lat soreness

Max Scherzer's debut with the Toronto Blue Jays came to an abrupt end Saturday when he was removed against the Baltimore Orioles after three innings because of right lat soreness, the team announced.

Scherzer departed after throwing 45 pitches and the Blue Jays leading 4-2.

Toronto's bullpen subsequently gave up the lead after Scherzer left, with the Orioles eventually winning Saturday's contest 9-5.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Scherzer initially felt something during his warmups but decided to pitch through it with caution before exiting.

"Frustrated is a good way to put it," Schneider said, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.

A sore thumb bothered Scherzer near the end of spring training, but the 40-year-old wound up making Saturday's start. He said postgame that the lat problem is "100% related to the thumb," per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Scherzer added that he plans to work with team doctors to determine the next steps.

"I'm frustrated. I want to pitch," Scherzer said, according to Nicholson-Smith. "I've got to get this 100% before I pitch again."

Scherzer inked a one-year, $15.5-million contract with the Blue Jays in the offseason after making just nine starts with the Texas Rangers in 2024.