As we’ve already seen in the early stages of the 2025 MLB season, injuries are often unpredictable and can strike at the most inopportune times. For the Toronto Blue Jays, the latest blow came in the form of Max Scherzer being placed on the 15-day injured list with a lingering thumb issue that made him leave his first start with the Jays.

In a sport where starting pitching depth is absolutely essential, the Blue Jays find themselves searching for answers just seven games into the season.

The question now looms large: Who else can start? Let’s take a closer look at the options.

Easton Lucas has already taken the mound for the Jays this season, a move that raised eyebrows considering his 8.64 ERA over three spring training starts and small sample size in the bullpen last year. But April is often a month for experimentation, and Lucas proved capable — at least initially.

In his first big league start, he pitched five scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals, allowing just one hit. He followed that up with an 8-strikeout performance against the Red Sox, going 5 1/3 innings and surrendering only three hits.

However, two rough outings since then led to a demotion to triple-A Buffalo. Whether Lucas will get another shot soon remains to be seen, but his recent struggles have cast doubt on his immediate viability.

Next up on the radar is Jake Bloss, one of the most closely watched arms in the Blue Jays’ farm system. Acquired from Houston last summer, Bloss is ranked sixth among the organization’s top prospects, and he’s the only one from the rankings in the minors with major league experience after pitching a handful of games for the Astros in 2024.

Unfortunately, his 2025 debut in triple-A was rocky. In just four innings, Bloss allowed eight runs (three earned), walked two, and struck out only one. That’s not the kind of outing that inspires confidence, especially for someone potentially one injury away from being called up. He did improve in his second start, but got shelled for eight runs against Syracuse on April 15th through 2 2/3 innings. However, Bloss’s best outing of the year came on April 20th, when he held Syracuse to just six hits and two runs (both unearned) while striking out seven compared to zero walks. The improved command is a welcome sign, and not allowing an earned run or a homer is also something to monitor.

Still, he’s a name to keep in mind. The talent is there — the question is whether he can harness it under big-league pressure.

Eric Lauer may not be on the 40-man roster, but he could soon find himself in the mix. Signed quietly to a minor league deal this past winter, Lauer brings a veteran presence and 112 MLB starts under his belt, with a career ERA of 4.30.

He hasn’t pitched in the majors since September 2023, but he’s getting work in at triple-A Buffalo. Through nine innings, he’s posted a 5.68 ERA and a WHIP of 1.32 — not stellar, but serviceable, especially for a depth option.

A familiar face from 2024, Yariel Rodríguez may be asked to step back into the rotation at some point this season. He posted a respectable 4.47 ERA over 21 starts last season, despite only throwing 86 2/3 innings.

This spring, Rodríguezwas stretched out to be a potential starter, but has been working from the bullpen in 2025. After a few rocky outings, he’s settled in nicely, but the injury to Nick Sandlin complicates matters. Transitioning Rodríguez to a starting role could further tax an already overworked bullpen, but he could also form a tandem with Paxton Schultz to get through the bulk of a game, similar to what John Schneider did last year with Rodríguez and Bowden Francis for a bit last year.

Still, if needed, he’s proven he can handle the role in a pinch.

Top pitching prospects Rickey Tiedemann (Tommy John surgery) and Adam Macko (knee injury) are both sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Trey Yesavage, the Jays’ first-round pick in 2024, is still in A-ball, and while he shows promise, he’s not near big league ready. One name that has surfaced recently is Khal Stephen, who impressed with a five-inning, six-strikeout outing in his debut at Dunedin, but similar to Yesavage, further development is needed.

Other intriguing arms to watch as the season progresses include Kendry Rojas, Lazaro Estrada, and potentially Angel Bastardo, once healthy. There’s certainly upside, but development and durability remain major concerns. Paxton Schultz is another option, although he hasn’t made a start this season after moving into a long-man role with the Bisons last season. The other name to potentially consider is Trenton Wallace, who posted solid results last year but is struggling out of the gate in 2025, authoring a 6.55 ERA through four starts.

The Blue Jays came into 2025 with high expectations, but early-season injuries, particularly to Scherzer, have already put their depth to the test. While there are options both on the roster and in the minors, none come without question marks.

For a team looking to contend, how they manage the rotation over the next few weeks could have long-term consequences. Whether they ride with internal arms or look outside the organization, one thing is certain: the next man up needs to be ready.