Thumbs up: MRI reveals no damage to Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer

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DUNEDIN, Fla. — Thumbs up to what had the potential to be the biggest injury scare early in Blue Jays spring training.

After an MRI to evaluate a wonky right thumb, Max Scherzer was cleared to return to work.

“Everything came back normal,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He played catch (the past two days) and hopefully he’ll get off the mound in the next day or two and then go from there.”

After three stellar spring training outings, the 40-year-old Scherzer was removed from a scheduled start here on Thursday after he experienced some soreness in his thumb. The fact that there’s no damage should clear him to resume preparations on schedule and be ready for the season.

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“He’s already kind of built up,” Schneider said. “So hopefully we can get him back into a game shortly. I think with the way he was throwing, he’s definitely bummed. But I think he’s managed this before and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure he’s continuing to manage it.”

Scherzer had thumb issues related to a nerve last season, but Schneider said the team is “fairly confident” the current minor setback is not related.

“I think if all goes well, his next game he should kind of pick up right where he left off, hopefully pushing 60, 70 pitches and keep going the right direction,” Schneider said.

With Scherzer out of the mix, the Jays went with Easton Lucas for Thursday’s TD Ballpark meeting with the Orioles.

Next up for the Jays are Friday and Saturday games across the state in Jupiter which will see Yariel Rodriguez and Bowden Francis get the starts, respectively. Jose Berrios takes to the mound on Sunday when the Jays return home for a game against the Braves.