Scherzer returns from injured list, will pitch on 42nd birthday in Washington

Max Scherzer returned from the injured list Monday and started in Washington on his 42nd birthday, a rare assignment for a pitcher still trusted to take a turn in a major-league rotation. Blue Jays manager John Schneider sent the right-hander back into the mix after a 15-day injured-list stint that began June 17, retroactive to June 14, because of back spasms.

The start carried extra weight in Washington, where Scherzer spent part of his career with the Nationals and became one of the most recognizable pitchers in the franchise’s modern history. Pitching there on July 27, his birthday, turned a routine roster move into a reunion with a ballpark that helped define his reputation.

Toronto’s decision to bring Scherzer back speaks to how carefully teams now handle veteran arms, especially in an era built around velocity, pitch counts and younger starters. Scherzer, identified by Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher, is part of a shrinking group of frontline pitchers whose value still comes from command, preparation and the ability to work meaningful innings into late summer.

That appeal was visible in spring training, when Scherzer threw four no-hit innings in his debut for the Blue Jays in Clearwater, Florida, during a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. He was 41 then. A few months later, with his birthday start in Washington, Toronto again asked him to help stabilize a staff that has to balance workloads carefully every time a veteran returns from the injured list.

For the Blue Jays, the practical stakes are immediate. One healthy start from Scherzer can alter bullpen usage, rotation planning and the way Toronto handles the next series. The symbolic stakes were just as clear in Washington, where Scherzer’s age and resume made the outing feel less like a stopgap and more like another entry in a long career defined by durability, competitiveness and the rare ability to keep writing new chapters deep into his 40s.