Toronto Blue Jays veteran right-hander Max Scherzer is set to return from the injured list and start Monday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals, coinciding with his 42nd birthday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed Sunday.

Scherzer, who has struggled with injuries and performance issues this season, will make his first appearance since mid-June when he was placed on the injured list with back spasms. He has also dealt with complications requiring three cortisone injections in his thumb. The pitcher recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo, where he threw 56 pitches over five innings and recorded seven strikeouts.

“Max is going to pitch [Monday],” Schneider said after Toronto’s 6-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He added that Scherzer’s physical status and recovery from the rehab start met the team’s expectations, though his pitch count may be managed.

This season, Scherzer has made only six starts for the Blue Jays and carries a 1-4 record with a 10.23 ERA. Toronto has struggled recently, losing seven of their last 10 games since the All-Star break.

Scherzer’s tenure with the Blue Jays has had its ups and downs. Last year, he was excluded from the American League Division Series roster due to late-season struggles but was reinstated for the American League Championship Series and World Series. Toronto ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-game World Series matchup.

Over a 19-season Major League Baseball career spanning seven teams, Scherzer has compiled a 222-121 record with a 3.27 ERA across 489 games. He is a two-time World Series champion, winning titles with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and with the Texas Rangers in 2023. Notably, Scherzer will take the mound against the Nationals—one of his former teams—on Monday as he marks his 42nd birthday.