Blue Jays' Scherzer exits early due to forearm tendinitis

Veteran pitcher limited to 2 innings vs. Dodgers, citing long-term health concerns

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:11am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of the Blue Jays and Dodgers, conveying the complex challenges of managing a veteran pitcher's health and workload.Scherzer's early exit highlights the challenges of managing veteran pitchers' workloads in pursuit of long-term success.Los Angeles Today

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer revealed that lingering right forearm tendinitis forced him to exit Monday's start against the Los Angeles Dodgers after just two innings. Scherzer emphasized the decision was precautionary to avoid further aggravating the injury and protect his long-term health, despite the shortened outing leading to a 14-2 loss for the Blue Jays.

Why it matters

Scherzer's early exit raises concerns about the stability of Toronto's starting rotation, which has already faced injury challenges this season. The three-time Cy Young winner's health is crucial to the team's playoff aspirations, so managing his workload carefully will be critical moving forward.

The details

Scherzer threw just 36 pitches, allowing two runs while recording two strikeouts and one walk before departing the game. The veteran right-hander said he decided to come out of the game after the second inning to avoid potentially doing more damage and jeopardizing his ability to pitch later this week.

  • Scherzer exited the game after the second inning on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Max Scherzer

A veteran right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Teoscar Hernandez

An outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers who hit a two-run home run that helped spark the Dodgers' offense in their 14-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

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What they’re saying

“After the second inning, you know, I didn't throw a bad pitch, didn't have it, didn't, I didn't do any damage to it, you know, I was just sitting there, I was like, what'd be the value [of] this third inning? Is this going to help us or hurt us, or is this going to hurt more for potentially pitching this weekend? And I thought the best thing to do is to worry about the weekend, protect myself, and so that's why I came out of the game.”

— Max Scherzer, Blue Jays Pitcher

What’s next

Scherzer expressed confidence in making his next start, but the Blue Jays will need to carefully manage his workload to ensure he is healthy for the team's playoff push.

The takeaway

Scherzer's decision to exit the game early highlights the delicate balance between short-term results and long-term health, especially for veteran pitchers. The Blue Jays will need to closely monitor Scherzer's recovery and be proactive in managing his workload to keep him on the mound for the team's most important games.