Blue Jays provide disheartening updates for Max Scherzer and Erik Swanson

The Blue Jays have had 20 players throw a pitch for them this year, and it looks like that number isn't going to stop growing any time soon.

On Monday, the Blue Jays officially announced their previously reported signings of pitchers Spencer Turnbull and José Ureña, who will provide the team with the latest round of pitching reinforcements.

And to make that happen, they made two pitching moves that show just exactly how dire their pitching situation has gotten.

To add Turnbull and Ureña to the roster, the Blue Jays transferred Max Scherzer and Erik Swanson to the 60-day injured list. The Blue Jays were planning on both players being key pieces in their pitching staff this season, but this move confirms that neither of them will be back for a couple of weeks at least.

Their injured list placement is backdated to when they were both placed on the 15-day IL, so there's still a chance they could return by the end of the month.

Blue Jays' latest roster moves show how dire their pitching situation is

The additions of Turnbull and Ureña are moves that will help the team both in the present and the future. Ureña will join the team for its West Coast road-trip (reliever Josh Walker was sent down to Triple-A as the ensuing move for Ureña's promotion), while Turnbull will begin a rehab assignment with the Blue Jays' Florida Complex League team.

Turnbull has been a free agent (which is why he needs to go on a rehab assignment before he can join the team), while Ureña was in Triple-A with the Mets and was designated for assignment after throwing three MLB innings for the Mets last week.

They'll both help give the team some length at a time where they No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays' rotation is being held together by duct tape and rosin after Scherzer's injury.

Scherzer had a thumb injury flare up during spring training and only lasted three innings in his season debut before being placed on the 15-day injured list due to said thumb injury.

While general manager Ross Atkins said that we were "talking about weeks" when it came to Scherzer's return, he also said that the team was planning on adding additional reinforcements.

He now won't be able to return until the end of May at the latest due to his placement on the 60-day injured list.

The same can be said for Swanson, who has been out since spring training due to a due to a median nerve entrapment in his right shoulder. He said that he'll be going for tests today, but his placement on the 60-day injured list isn't a good sign for his return.

Ureña worked as a swingman for the past three years, and he'll likely fill that role in Toronto's bullpen. Erick Lauer currently holds the No. 5 spot in the rotation (he worked as a bulk man behind an opener in his season debut), but Ureña could also fill that role if needed.

The No. 5 spot in the rotation is technically set for Tuesday's game against the Angels, but José Berríos would be able to start on five days rest thanks to Monday's off-day.

The Blue Jays signed Scherzer in the hopes that he'd help lead them in their quest to the postseason. Monday's move shows that he won't be able to help in that quest until the end of the month at least.