Max Scherzer reached 49 pitches in his rehab start with the Vancouver Canadians: 3IP 3H 2ER 3K 2BB No statcast/velo data available in A+ #BlueJays
Blue Jays: Max Scherzer strikes out three in Vancouver rehab start
Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Jul 3, 2026, 20:49 EDT
Max Scherzer has officially made his return to the mound.
On Friday, Scherzer made his first rehab start in High-A with Vancouver as he works his way back from back spasms that forced him to the injured list on June 17.
Squaring off with the Eugene Emeralds in the eventual Canadians’ 5-3 win, Scherzer turned in a pitching line of 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K in his first outing since June 10.
Scherzer opened the game by allowing a leadoff walk to leadoff batter Trevor Cohen, who subsequently stole second base, but from there, the 41-year-old buckled down. Scherzer struck out the next two batters before getting Emeralds designated hitter Dakota Jordan to ground out to short to end the frame.
The second inning was another successful showing for Scherzer.
After retiring Carlos Gutierrez to open the frame with a ground out to second base, Jancel Villarroel singled on a line drive to center field. Scherzer retired Zander Darby on a groundout to third base, but Villarroel advanced to second base to set up another runner in scoring position with two out. Scherzer got Jakob Christian to lineout to end the inning and keep the Emeralds off the board.
After throwing two scoreless frames, Scherzer ran into trouble in the top of the third. The veteran starter struck out Walker Martin before allowing the next three batters to reach. The Emeralds went walk, double, single to push the first run across the board against Scherzer. He would get Jordan to ground out, but that allowed the Emeralds to make it a 2-1 game.
After getting Gutierrez to ground out to end the third, Scherzer’s day came to an end after throwing 49 pitches. With no Statcast data available, we will have to wait for an update on how Scherzer looked and felt once he re-joins the Blue Jays in Seattle.
While next steps will be determined over the next few days, the Toronto Blue Jays are currently working with a four-man rotation after Patrick Corbin’s move to the bullpen. Through six starts this season, Scherzer is 1-4 with a 10.23 ERA and 1.73 WHIP, so if the future Hall of Famer can’t turn it around, it will be tough to roll him out every fifth day as the Blue Jays try to hunt down a playoff spot for the second consecutive season.
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