Max Scherzer’s highly anticipated debut in a Blue Jays uniform lasted just three innings before he was pulled due to soreness in his right latissimus dorsi. The veteran pitcher allowed two runs on three hits over 45 pitches, striking out one, in Toronto’s 9-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Scherzer revealed that he had noticed discomfort in both his right lat and thumb during warmups. “It was tight,” he admitted. “I got through the first three innings, but I could tell I wasn’t fully letting the ball go.”

The 40-year-old right-hander was replaced by reliever Richard Lovelady to start the fourth inning. Lovelady struggled, hitting two Orioles batters and walking Jackson Holliday before surrendering a bases-clearing double to Ramón Urías, pushing Baltimore’s lead to 6-4.

Offensively, Bo Bichette shined for the Blue Jays, going 4-for-4 in a game for the first time in 11 months. However, the headline from the day remained Scherzer’s injury, which raises long-term concerns for the team. The Blue Jays had signed Scherzer to a one-year, $15.5 million contract in February to bolster their rotation, following a season during which he spent significant time sidelined with a thumb injury while playing for the Texas Rangers.

Scherzer said the lat soreness was “100 per cent related to the thumb,” citing ongoing discomfort. “Because of that, my arm and the rest of my body were adjusting. In this case, it was my lat picking up the slack,” he shared. “I want to pitch—I know I can pitch. But I need to zero out the thumb before I can pitch again. I’ve got to get it 100 percent, and it’s critical for the health of my right arm.”

Scherzer said he will monitor the condition over the coming days, though he is not expected to make his next start until Friday, April 4, against one of his former teams, the New York Mets.

The Blue Jays will aim to bounce back on Sunday in the final game of their opening series against Baltimore. Chris Bassitt is scheduled to take the mound for Toronto, while the Orioles will counter with 35-year-old Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who is set to make his MLB debut.