MLB insider says quiet part loudly regarding Blue Jays' Scherzer and his forearm issue

Veteran starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, leaving Monday night's 14-2 blowout loss to the two-time defending World Series champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers, was the last thing fans of the Toronto Blue Jays wanted to see. Scherzer was officially diagnosed with forearm tendonitis after pitching just 36 pitches in two innings.

The 41-year-old has reportedly dealt with the injury for a few weeks and tried to pitch through it without further damage on Monday - but was listed as day-to-day and was adament that he would be making his next start. However, skepticism is warranted here, considering Scherzer's thumb issues from a year ago.

If he ends up missing time, he would become the sixth injured Blue Jays starting pitcher this season, another injury added to a growing list, starting the team's 50th anniversary season with a somber note. Even MLB Insider, Ken Rosenthal, sounded the alarm during an episode of the sports podcast, Foul Territory.

"The one thing I took away from this game was Max Scherzer," Rosenthal said. "If Max Scherzer misses any length of time, or he's not the same pitcher for a period of time, it's not a great situation."

Rosenthal says the Blue Jays could be in a dire situation if Mad Max is out for an extended period

Rosenthal raising the alarm is a good point. Scherzer, who signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays, is not getting any younger. Any injury, even if it is small, could alter the pitcher's performance and his role in the Blue Jays' success.

Scherzer did look great in his first start of the season against the Rockies, pitching six innings, allowing one run and a walk while fanning four batters en-route to a win. Scherzer's stuff and velocity seemed to be encouraging, but that was not found against the Dodgers. His tendonitis flared up, causing his pitch speed to drop into the low 90s, something uncommon for the veteran.

The good news is that the injury does seem to be minor. Scherzer was not listed on the IL like the other five starters (Cody Ponce, Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Bowden Francis, who is out for the season after getting UCL reconstruction surgery), who are either on the 15-day or 60-day list. Scherzer himself seems optimistic that his tendonitis will not be a prolonged issue.

"There's nothing major going on," he said to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon postgame. "I don't think this is an IL issue where I need to miss two starts. I think I just needed to guard it today."

If what Scherzer says is true, then this should be the least of Blue Jays fans' worries, but there is still uncertainty about when he will officially make his return. It does not help that the team has suffered injury after injury in what seems to be a cruel and vicious cycle plaguing the beginning of their season. Pair that with a team that has been starving for offense, especially from superstars that have gone cold, and you have a perfect recipe for a lengthy losing streak.

That said, it is still very early. Scherzer will continue to be monitored throughout the next few weeks, as Toronto aims to find a way to spark some momentum.