Max Scherzer placed on injured list by Toronto Blue Jays with back spasms

Max Scherzer has been placed on the 10-day injured list by the Toronto Blue Jays due to back spasms, the team announced Wednesday. The decision came just hours before the three-time Cy Young Award winner was scheduled to start against the Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays will use reliever Braydon Fisher as an emergency starter in Scherzer's place.

Scherzer, who will turn 42 next month, has been plagued by injuries throughout the 2026 season. The veteran pitcher spent more than six weeks on the injured list earlier this season dealing with right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. He returned to action last week and achieved a historic milestone by becoming the 11th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 3,500 career strikeouts when he struck out Philadelphia Phillies batter Kyle Schwarber.

However, that achievement proved to be the highlight of an otherwise difficult stretch. Scherzer was removed from that game after allowing five runs in 3⅓ innings, resulting in a 7-4 loss to the Phillies. His record with Toronto stands at 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA across six starts in 2026. Scherzer signed a one-year contract worth three million dollars to rejoin the Blue Jays during the offseason, but the season has been marked by recurring physical setbacks.