Questions of when Max Scherzer’s next start would be have been put to rest.
The Toronto Blue Jays pitcher is set to make his long-awaited return to the major-league mound against the Washington Nationals on Monday, manager John Schneider told reporters Sunday.
How the Jays would set up their rotation for the three-game set against the Nationals was still up in the air as they weighed the health of the 41-year-old Scherzer.
However, a strong start from the future Hall of Famer in his final rehab outing on Wednesday looked to be convincing enough to let the Jays give him the ball.
Scherzer threw 56 pitches in five innings, striking out seven. The only baserunner he allowed reached on a fielding error by shortstop Josh Kasevich.
It marked Scherzer’s first rehab outing since before the all-star break, when he received three cortisone shots in his thumb and was forced to miss a scheduled outing.
He was placed on the injured list in June for back spasms but has since been plagued with various injuries, delaying his return to the team.
He has not pitched in a game for the Blue Jays since June 10. He holds a 10.23 ERA in six starts this season for a Toronto team that has been struggling with a lack of starting-pitching depth.