The 2025 season has been anything but smooth sailing for the Blue Jays. Plagued by a relentless wave of injuries, the team has struggled to find its rhythm, with key players spending more time on the IL than on the field. But amidst the frustration, there’s finally a ray of hope. As the Blue Jays look to stabilize and mount a midseason push, they may have just received the boost they’ve been desperately waiting for. Their veteran pitcher is all set to return after long.

If you are still guessing, we are talking about Max Scherzer. For the unversed, the injury bug has bitten the Blue Jays hard this season. The long list of sidelined players includes Max Scherzer, Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez, Yimi Garcia, and Nick Sandlin. Amid this ongoing struggle, the long-awaited return of Scherzer can provide the much-needed jolt the team has been waiting for. Well, MLB insider Keegan Matheson just confirmed the return timeline of Scherzer.

According to Matheson, Scherzer faced live hitters on Tuesday. And he is on track to pitch in either a Florida Complex League game or a simulated game in Florida this Sunday. Following that outing, he’s expected to begin a formal rehab assignment, with Triple-A Buffalo likely being his next stop. The plan is for Scherzer to ramp up his workload there.

So, a few exhibition games before he joins the starting roster. Still a few days left for the Blue Jays’ ace, but hey, its a positive news for the team, particularly when they are facing a contract bust with Scherzer! Yes, you heard that right!

Bleacher Report recently dropped its list of the biggest contract busts of the 2025 MLB season so far. Guess what, the Blue Jays didn’t just appear in the list, they got mentioned twice. Apart from Max Scherzer, Anthony Santander also found his way there.

Just during the last offseason, the Jays spent $15.5 million on Scherzer. This was after the 41-year-old pitcher had just nine starts last year amid injury. Now, this year has turned out to be no exception. Scherzer managed just 45 pitches on his season debut before thumb inflammation shut him down. So, $15.5 million has been paid to play just one game against the Orioles so far, back in March! That’s the contract bust they are talking about.

However, as Scherzer is reportedly coming back, let’s see if the Blue Jays can get something out of that $15.5 million.

The Blue Jays’ pitching needs added strength 

The Blue Jays’ pitching staff in 2025 has been a mixed bag. They have shown flashes of dominance undercut by inconsistency and injury setbacks. While the bullpen has done its best to hold the line, the rotation has struggled to find stability with key arms like Max Scherzer and Yimi Garcia missing time.

Toronto’s starters have posted middle-of-the-pack numbers, often failing to go deep into games, which has placed added pressure on the relievers. The team currently ranks #20 in terms of ERA (4.03). You can imagine the pitching form of the team!

So, with a rotation that’s been stretched thin and plagued by inconsistency, getting a veteran presence like Scherzer back on the mound is expected to provide a major boost. Yes, he isn’t at full throttle right away. But his experience, leadership, and ability to read innings could help stabilize the pitching staff and ease the pressure on the bullpen.

On the other hand, there have been a few bright spots like Brendon Little – the lone warrior of the Jays on the mound. As of early June, Little boasts a stellar 1.37 ERA with 37 strikeouts. Maybe the addition of a veteran powerhouse will help now.

The fans can only hope once he returns, Scherzer plays the remainder of the season without any more hiccups.