Max Scherzer’s thumb leads to lat issue

Max Scherzer is, well, mad.

TORONTO – Max Scherzer is, well, mad.

The 40-year-old surefire Hall of Famer hoped to be a contributor for the Blue Jays when he signed a one-year, US$15.5 million contract with Toronto on Feb. 4. But lingering discomfort in his thumb hampered his ability to get ready during spring training and led to a strained right lat in an abbreviated three-inning outing on Saturday in his regular-season debut for the Blue Jays.

“I’m frustrated. I want to pitch. I know I can pitch. I know I can throw the ball really well,” he said after Toronto’s 9-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles when he gave up two home runs. “Unfortunately, I’ve got an issue going on. It’s coming from the thumb, and I’ve got to address this.

“I’ve got to zero out that thumb before I pitch again.”

Scherzer had an 80-pitch limit heading into his Blue Jays debut but threw only 45, giving up the two runs on three hits, striking out one. He had warned manager John Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker of the compensatory injury in his lat after his pre-game warmups but he felt obligated to try to pitch to spare Toronto’s bullpen a long day.

“I didn’t throw a pitch where I had a zing, where anything went, where it had a bad pitch, where it felt a strain or anything,” said Scherzer. “I really don’t feel like it has strained anything, so I feel like the lat will be OK, but I;ve got to figure out this thumb.”

Scherzer — known as “Mad Max” because of his intensity on an off the field — is an eight-time all-star and has won the Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in his league three times. He has a 216-112 record over his 17-year career with a 3.16 earned-run average and 3,408 strikeouts.

He was brought to Toronto to add depth to the starting rotation and serve as a role model to the team’s other pitchers. Now it’s unlikely he’ll make his next scheduled start.