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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Steps up for fourth save
Thu, May 21, 2026, 10:19 PM
Hoffman secured the save Thursday against the Yankees, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.
Analysis: Closer Louis Varland worked each of the past two days for the Blue Jays, opening the door for Hoffman to claim his first save opportunity since April 20. The 33-year-old right-hander should remain a stable source of holds in fantasy leagues that count them, but Varland has allowed only a pair of earned runs across 25.2 innings this year and has pulled away as Toronto's preferred closer. Through 22 frames, Hoffman has converted just four of his seven save chances to go with a 5.32 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 37:8 K:BB. |
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Spencer Miles Spencer Miles Shines in long relief
Thu, May 21, 2026, 10:11 PM
Miles didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Yankees, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk in 4.1 innings of relief. He struck out six.
Analysis: Working bulk relief for the Blue Jays, Miles dazzled over 4.1 shutout frames against a formidable Yankees lineup Thursday. The rookie right-hander fanned a season-high six during his longest outing of the campaign, flooding the zone for 47 strikes. Miles also saw his largest pitch count of the season (63 pitches), so he's getting closer to handling a traditional starter's workload. He could have some deep-league streaming appeal in his next scheduled appearance versus Miami, as Miles sports a 2.17 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB over 29 innings. |
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Andres Gimenez Andres Gimenez Not starting versus lefty
Thu, May 21, 2026, 3:29 PM
Gimenez is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Yankees.
Analysis: The Blue Jays are loading their lineup with righties against Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodon. With Gimenez beginning the game on the bench, Ernie Clement is sliding over to shortstop, and Lenyn Sosa will get the start at second base. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Not in Thursday's lineup
Thu, May 21, 2026, 3:27 PM
Sanchez (chest) is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.
Analysis: Sanchez was lifted from Wednesday's contest after getting the wind knocked out of him. The left-handed hitter likely wasn't going to start Thursday, anyway, with the Yankees sending southpaw Carlos Rodon to the bump, but it's unclear whether he'll be available off the bench. Myles Straw will cover right field for Toronto in Sanchez's stead. |
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Spencer Miles Spencer Miles Another bulk-relief outing on tap
Thu, May 21, 2026, 9:48 AM
Miles is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Braydon Fisher in Thursday's game against the Yankees, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Though he's not yet been used as a traditional starter, Miles appears to have temporarily settled in as the fifth member of the Toronto rotation. While serving as an opening pitcher May 10 against the Angels and as a bulk reliever this past Saturday in Detroit, Miles covered 6.2 scoreless frames while striking out seven batters and allowing six baserunners. The rookie right-hander tossed a season-high 56 pitches his last time out, so the Blue Jays could have him build on that workload during Thursday's appearance. |
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Braydon Fisher Braydon Fisher Receiving opener assignment
Thu, May 21, 2026, 9:44 AM
Fisher will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander will work as an opener for the second time this season, after he previously tossed one inning in a starting role April 17 in Arizona. Fisher hasn't recorded more than six outs in any of his 24 appearances on the season, so expect him to work between one and two innings Thursday before exiting the game. Spencer Miles is expected to work in bulk relief behind Fisher. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Removed due to injury
Wed, May 20, 2026, 10:44 PM
Sanchez was removed from Wednesday's game against the Yankees with an apparent injury, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Sanchez attempted a diving catch on a flyball in the seventh inning and was replaced in right field immediately afterward. It's unclear what exactly is bothering him, but the Blue Jays will likely offer some clarity after the game. If the 28-year-old has to miss any amount of time, Yohendrick Pinango would be next in line to start in the field. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Nearing rehab assignment
Wed, May 20, 2026, 6:49 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Bieber (elbow) could begin pitching in rehab games by the end of next week "if all goes well," Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Toronto has been bringing Bieber along slowly this season after he contended with fatigue in his surgically repaired right elbow toward the end of the team's run to the World Series last fall. He's been throwing against live hitters for nearly two weeks, and with Bieber having thus far avoided any setbacks during that step of the recovery process, he appears poised to advance to the final phase of his rehab program in the near future. Bieber is expected to require around four or five minor-league starts before being activated from the 60-day injured list, so he's unlikely to be a realistic option for the Toronto rotation until late June. |
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Jose Berrios Jose Berrios Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Wed, May 20, 2026, 4:08 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: The Blue Jays and Berrios went into the operation unsure whether the pitcher would require a ligament repair, and as it turns out he required a full UCL procedure. Berrios has been sidelined all season with elbow problems and will now likely be shelved until at least the second half of the 2027 campaign. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Ready to play Wednesday
Wed, May 20, 2026, 3:30 PM
Clement (illness) will start at second base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Analysis: While recovering from a bout with strep throat, Clement was limited to a pinch-hitting role in Tuesday's 5-4 loss, but he appears ready to play a full nine innings Wednesday. Since rapping out a season-high five hits May 9 against the Angels, Clement has fallen into a bit of a lull at the dish, going 6-for-27 (.222 average) over his ensuing nine games. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Career-high four hits Tuesday
Tue, May 19, 2026, 9:59 PM
Varsho went 4-for-5 with a steal and a run scored during the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday.
Analysis: Varsho posted a career high in hits Tuesday, all of which resulted in singles. He's recorded at least two hits in three of his last four games, which has improved his season slash line to .278/.346/.438 with four steals, five home runs and 15 RBI in 179 plate appearances. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Yields two homers to Bronx Bombers
Tue, May 19, 2026, 9:48 PM
Cease (3-2) took the loss against the Yankees on Tuesday, allowing five runs on four hits and four walk while striking out nine across five innings.
Analysis: It was an up-and-down performance out of Cease in Tuesday's start. He recorded six of his nine punchouts through the first three innings (and struck out the side in the third). However, Cease issued three of his four walks over the next two frames and gave up all five runs on homers by Ryan McMahon and Ben Rice in the fourth and fifth frames, respectively. Cease had given up just one home run through his first nine starts of the season, and Tuesday was the first time he yielded two homers in a start since Aug. 21 as a member of the Padres. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is lined up for this weekend at home against the Pirates. |
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Tommy Nance Tommy Nance Could begin throwing soon
Tue, May 19, 2026, 4:47 PM
Manager John Schneider said Tuesday that the outlook for Nance's forearm injury is a "best case" scenario, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Nance can begin throwing again later in the week to work through his forearm discomfort. The right-hander has been a valuable piece for the Toronto bullpen with a 1.99 ERA in 30 regular-season appearances in 2025 and a 3.86 across 20 appearances in 2026. |
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Chase Lee Chase Lee Back in big leagues
Tue, May 19, 2026, 4:08 PM
The Blue Jays recalled Lee from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
Analysis: The right-hander was up with Toronto for one day in late April and gave up one run over 1.1 innings versus Boston. Lee has a 1.83 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 19.2 innings for Buffalo this season. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Dealing with strep throat
Tue, May 19, 2026, 4:04 PM
Clement has strep throat and is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Clement started the previous 15 games but will hit the bench after feeling the strep symptoms come on Monday. Davis Schneider is stepping in at second base Tuesday for Toronto. |
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Joe Mantiply Joe Mantiply Out with knee issue
Tue, May 19, 2026, 3:16 PM
The Blue Jays placed Mantiply on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 18, due to left knee inflammation.
Analysis: Mantiply presumably picked up the injury during his last appearance Sunday in Detroit, where he allowed a hit and a walk over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning. The left-hander is without an official timeline for his return but will be eligible to be reinstated in early June. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Not ready to take full BP yet
Tue, May 19, 2026, 8:37 AM
Kirk has not been cleared to take full batting practice yet because he still feels a bit of soreness in his surgically repaired left thumb while hitting, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Kirk is performing all other baseball activities, and by the end of this week, the Blue Jays expect to have a better idea of when the catcher will be ready for a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old is six weeks removed from surgery to have a screw inserted into his fractured left thumb. Whether Kirk can make it back before the end of May is starting to shape up as an uncertain proposition. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Hits three-run homer in loss
Mon, May 18, 2026, 11:15 PM
Clement went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, four RBI, one walk and two runs scored in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Yankees.
Analysis: Following back-to-back singles from Vladimir Guerrero and Kazuma Okamoto to lead off the top of the fourth inning, Clement took Ryan Weathers deep for a two-out, three-run shot to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead. He later drove in a fourth run with a fielder's choice groundout. After failing to homer in the first 29 games of the season, Clement has three homers over his last 17 contests. He's now slashing .283/.309/.406 with the three long balls, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, one stolen base and a 7:15 BB:K across 188 plate appearances this season. |
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George Springer George Springer Goes deep in loss
Mon, May 18, 2026, 11:08 PM
Springer went 2-for-5 with a solo homer in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Yankees.
Analysis: Springer saw the ball well against lefty Ryan Weathers, singling to lead off the game before taking him deep for a solo homer to give Toronto a 4-3 lead in the fifth. It was Springer's first homer since returning from the injured list April 29 and first since the Blue Jays' fourth game of the season on March 30. It snapped a personal 23-game homer-less drought for the 36-year-old, who had been 0-for-11 over his previous three games. On the season, Springer is slashing a disappointing .196/.277/.327 with three homers, nine RBI, 10 runs scored, one stolen base and an 11:23 BB:K across 120 trips to the plate. |
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Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Goes just four innings Monday
Mon, May 18, 2026, 11:01 PM
Corbin didn't factor into the decision Monday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts across four innings.
Analysis: Corbin failed to go five innings for the second straight start, and he's surrendered six runs on 15 hits and four walks with just four strikeouts across 8.1 innings during that span. He's yet to make it six innings in any of his eight starts this season and is merely just trying to eat innings for this shorthanded Toronto pitching staff. The left-hander's xERA of 6.10 is much higher than his actual 4.23 ERA, and he's in the second percentile with an expected batting average against of .312. Corbin is also in just the 10th percentile or worse in fastball velocity (91.1 mph), whiff rate and strikeout rate. He owns a lackluster 25:13 K:BB across 38.1 innings. |
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