Max Scherzer will officially begin a rehab assignment this weekend, according to Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Prior to Thursday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles, Schneider told reporters — including Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling — that Scherzer will pitch for Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, aiming for between 45-60 pitches in his first rehab assignment. But that plan is subject to change.

The Blue Jays are letting the 41-year-old starter dictate his pace, and rightly so. He’ll decide how long his outing lasts based on how he’s feeling each inning.

Sunday’s rehab game will mark Scherzer’s first start since April 24 versus the Cleveland Guardians. The future Hall of Famer threw a two-inning live BP in Toronto on Wednesday, tossing roughly 30 pitches against a few Blue Jays coaches and staff members.

The veteran right-hander appears to be in the clear (for now) from his earlier right forearm tendinitis and left ankle sprain, both of which landed him on the 15-day injured list late last month. In his absence, the club has, fortunately, been able to fill his vacated rotation spot via bullpen games, headlined by the emergence of Spencer Miles.

Over Miles’ last four appearances, a span that includes one start, the Rule 5 selection has allowed just one earned run on nine hits and four walks while striking out 16 across 15.1 innings, earning a dominating 0.59 ERA and 1.76 FIP.

Miles is now stretched out to 4.1 innings and threw a season-high 66 pitches in his most recent outing — Tuesday’s 8-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. This spot in Toronto’s rotation is due up again on Sunday in Baltimore.

Converting Miles to a hybrid starter, also known as a bulk reliever, isn’t a sustainable solution, given that he entered this season with fewer than 15 career innings in professional baseball due to multiple season-ending injuries in the past. However, it’s certainly helped keep this club afloat in the short term.

If everything runs smoothly with Scherzer’s outing on Sunday, he’ll be targeting another Triple-A rehab start next Friday, where he’ll likely build up closer to 65-70 pitches. From there, it’s possible he could rejoin the Blue Jays’ rotation during its next turn, meaning Miles might remain in this modified role for just another week or so.

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