Are the Blue Jays spiraling? It’s starting to look that way. A dip in form and a mounting injury list are dragging down their 2025 season—and fast. The biggest red flag? Max Scherzer. The $15.5 million veteran was supposed to be their anchor, but a pesky thumb injury just won’t quit. After a brief return and even a second cortisone shot to numb the pain, hopes were high. But instead of steadying the ship, Scherzer’s setback might be the latest crack in a season that’s starting to fall apart. So what’s really going wrong here?

The Toronto Blue Jays were waiting for the recovery of their seasoned pitcher. And guess what, he returned to the mound, and even received a second cortisone shot in the knuckle area to prevent the discomfort in the thumb area. However, a gloomy cloud hangs over them because Max Scherzer still does not seem to have the confidence to throw.

It was not long ago that Max Scherzer, the star pitcher for the Blue Jays, would rock the batters each time he took the mound. The 40-year-old had a moderate 2024 season, where he had a 3.95 ERA with 9 G, 43.1 IP, 40 strikeouts, and a 1.15 WHIP. He used to combine his intensity and accuracy to dominate the mound whenever the Blue Jays faced formidable opponents. However, Scherzer’s game was cut short after he experienced discomfort in his right lat; the thumb issue was blamed for such a problem, which prompted him to exit the game.

However, the good news was that Scherzer finally made his way back to the mound. Talking to Hazel Mae, Scherzer said, “It’s the best it’s (thumb) felt for a while now. At least we’re on the positive. Until I’m in games and throwing 75 pitches, I’m not out of the woods yet.”

However, the brief moment of happiness was short-lived, as a significant update soon became the talk of the town. Despite Max Scherzer trying his best to throw pitches, after getting the cortisone shot, it doesn’t seem like he is as good as he used to be earlier. His thumb discomfort has raised questions, leading many to wonder if he will be able to reach his full potential while the thumb is bothering him.

Although Toronto will still try to change the course of events, Scherzer’s performance may suffer in the long run due to the pressure to return to the rotation. The expected recovery may take too long, and the outcomes could turn out to be just the opposite of what the Blue Jays expected. Meanwhile, the pitching injury epidemic is a major problem MLB is facing at present. Any guesses why? What might be the factors behind this problem?

Why are so many pitchers getting injured in MLB?

Several factors come into play, but MLB conducted a recent study to identify some of the major factors that contributed to the pitching injury epidemic. One of the prime causes behind the problem is the pitchers going for higher velocities, trying to give their maximum effort both in-game and during the training sessions. These factors have been taken into consideration based on the opinions and responses of multiple individuals, including orthopedic surgeons, players, former pitchers, trainers, club officials, agents, and every other individual involved with the pitching department.

In this season, every performance counts, and missing out on a player of Max Scherzer’s calibre is nothing short of a major fault. It not only raises doubts about the Toronto Blue Jays‘ chances of winning the World Championship, but it also highlights how crucial it is to strike a balance between performance and physical health. While there isn’t any specific solution to it, as every team treats their pitchers differently. However, according to MLB, efforts must be made to keep an eye on the pitcher’s training and evaluate the workload from the spring session. This would help in preventing the pitchers from overworking while, at the same time, maintaining consistency in their vertical break and spin rate too.

What are your thoughts on the growing number of pitching injuries in MLB? Let us know in the comments.