Barring a late development, it appears right-hander Max Scherzer will be available to make his first start of the 2025 season for the Toronto Blue Jays later this week.

The 40-year-old starter is recovering well following his 62-pitch outing against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, where he completed four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and a walk, striking out four. Of his 62 pitches thrown, he landed 47 for strikes.

Scherzer had his previous start skipped due to right thumb soreness, an issue he’s been dealing with since 2023. But he threw roughly 50 pitches during a minor-league game last week and bounced back without experiencing any major discomfort in his thumb.

If Scherzer’s thumb continues progressing, the three-time Cy Young Award winner will be lined up to pitch Game 3 versus the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday at the Rogers Centre.

Much of the concern surrounding Scherzer has involved his post-start recovery rather than the minor discomfort he’s felt during his spring outings. It’s an issue the club will have to continue to monitor throughout this season.

The eight-time All-Star attempted to pitch through his right thumb injury last spring, but that made things worse as it became a nerve issue running up his entire pitching arm. As a result, he didn’t make his season debut until late June and only made nine starts with the Texas Rangers that year.

Of those nine starts, Scherzer pitched to a 3.95 ERA and 4.18 FIP with 40 strikeouts across 43.1 innings. Two seasons ago, he posted a 3.77 ERA, 4.32 FIP and 20.8-per-cent strikeout-to-walk rate difference (K-BB%) in 27 starts split between the New York Mets and Rangers.

Scherzer — signed to a one-year, $15.5-million contract over the winter — produced a dazzling 1.38 ERA with 18 strikeouts and only one walk allowed in four starts this spring. Only six batters reached base safely of the 46 batters he faced, five via hits.