Jays’ Sanchez has surgery

Toronto Blue Jays righthander Aaron Sanchez underwent surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday, though the team would not go into details as to what exactly the procedure entailed.

GM Ross Atkins said he expects Sanchez, who went 4-6 with a 4.89 ERA in 20 starts this season, to be ready for spring training.

Sanchez, the 2016 AL ERA leader (3.00), has struggled with finger issues the last couple of seasons. The 26-year-old landed on the DL four times in 2017 because of blister issues on his right middle finger. Last September, he was diagnosed with a pulley issue in the finger.

This season he missed 54 games because of a right index finger contusion, the result of an accident with a suitcase, and though he returned to the team on Aug. 25, he has not been the ace the Jays had hoped him to be.

Atkins also confirmed that rookie infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is out for the season with a grade 2 hamstring strain after leaving Monday’s game against the Houston Astros.

Los Angeles Angels twoway rookie Shohei Ohtani will have Tommy John surgery next week. The Angels confirmed Ohtani’s longexpected decision on elbow ligament replacement Tuesday. Ohtani won’t be able to pitch for the Angels in 2019, but he likely could hit at some point early next season. Ohtani went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts, but he has pitched just once since early June after developing a strained right elbow. Ohtani is batting .280 with 56 RBIs after hitting his 21st homer Monday.

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer became the 17th major league pitcher since 1900 to strike out at least 300 batters in a season.

Scherzer reached the milestone against the Marlins. He has 10 strikeouts or more in a majors-high 18 of his 33 starts in 2018.