(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Toronto's Max Scherzer was given the thumbs up to start Saturday afternoon against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Now the Blue Jays hope his thumb holds up.

Scherzer's thumb was an issue during spring training, but it passed the test against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday at Fort Myers, Fla.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was deemed fit enough to start Saturday in the third contest of a four-game set against the American League East-rival Orioles.

The teams have split the first two games, with Baltimore winning 12-2 on Thursday and Toronto recording an 8-2 decision on Friday.

Signed to a one-year, $15.5 million contract in February, Scherzer, a right-hander, was limited to nine starts with the Texas Rangers in 2024 because of various ailments. He was 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA.

But he was sharp in Toronto's 2-1 spring training win over Minnesota. He struck out four in four scoreless innings.

The thumb remains a concern, however.

'It's a little thing that's a big thing,' said Scherzer, 40. 'I'm not going to lie, it's frustrating. Because I know I can pitch at this level. I know I can still pitch at a very high level as well. I know I have the pitches that I can execute and I can locate. But right now, it's a thumb issue, and I'm going to be battling it until I'm fully built up.'

Scherzer made 62 pitches against Minnesota and is expected to be ready to reach 75-80 on Saturday. And then he will wait until Sunday to see the effect on his thumb.

'When I'm out there, it heats up and it goes away and I'm fine,' Scherzer said. 'It's kind of like tendinitis in a way. Once it gets hot. ... then I don't feel it and I can pitch the way I've always pitched. I'm not worried about my stuff; I'm worried about how I recover -- because this can blow up fast and lead to a lot of other things.'

Scherzer had problems with the Orioles last season, going 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA against them in two starts. He is 7-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 16 career starts against Baltimore.

Dean Kremer, who went 8-10 with a 4.10 ERA last season, will start for Baltimore on Saturday. The right-hander was 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA in one start vs. the Blue Jays in 2024 and is 3-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 11 career outings (10 starts) against them.

Neither team has used its closer because the first two games were blowouts.

Toronto's Jeff Hoffman, signed as a free agent in the offseason, warmed up Friday but was not needed.

The return of Baltimore closer Felix Bautista from elbow surgery means manager Brandon Hyde will use him carefully, particularly in the first half of the season.

The manager said Bautista will be restricted to one inning and will not be used on back-to-back days. And if he warms up, Hyde would like to use him and not sit him if the game situation changes.

'When I get him up, I'd love to be able to get him in the game,' Hyde said. 'A lot of times, closers or high-leverage guys, that's not the case. ... I'm just trying to handle Felix as well as I possibly can.'

'That's the plan we discussed, to find a way to have me stay ready and stay healthy throughout the entire season,' Bautista said. 'Have that continue going through the playoffs, hopefully.'

--Field Level Media