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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Could start Sunday
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:11 PM
Scherzer could be the starter for the Blue Jays' regular-season finale against the Reds on Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: With the Blue Jays eliminated from playoff contention, Sunday's game could be Scherzer's final start in his major-league career, in what would be in front of the home crowd at Rogers Centre. It hasn't exactly been the final season that the veteran right-hander has hoped for, with Scherzer sporting a 3-9 record (across 17 starts) with a 6.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 77.2 innings. Still, Sunday's matinee would be the opportunity for Scherzer to end his career on a high note, assuming he hangs up the cleats during the offseason. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Anticipates normal offseason
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:03 PM
Cease (shoulder) said Friday that he anticipates having a relatively normal offseason, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Surgery was ruled out, but Cease will take some downtime over the next several weeks to allow the inflammation in his shoulder to subside. He still expects to be ready for the start of spring training in 2027. A Cy Young candidate throughout much of the campaign, Cease finishes the 2026 season with a 2.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 239 strikeouts across 29 starts and 169 innings. |
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Brett Bateman Brett Bateman Expected back Saturday
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 3:58 PM
Bateman (hip) is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against the Reds, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Bateman left Monday's game with right hip discomfort and has not seen the field since, but he is making progress and it sounds like he will play again this weekend, even with the Blue Jays now officially out of playoff contention. Depending on how Bateman responds to pregame work Friday, he could be available off the bench for the series opener against Cincinnati. |
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Anthony Santander Anthony Santander Won't return in 2026
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 3:42 PM
Santander (shoulder) will not be returning to the Blue Jays this season, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Santander had been working his way back from left shoulder surgery, advancing to a rehab assignment earlier this month. However, he had a back issue crop up during his assignment, and the Blue Jays ultimately decided to have him get an early start on his offseason training. Santander did not make a single big-league appearance this season and has totaled just 54 regular-season games played in his first two years with Toronto. |
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Andres Gimenez Andres Gimenez Sitting against lefty
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:37 PM
Gimenez is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.
Analysis: With southpaw Nick Lodolo on the bump for Cincinnati, Gimenez will give way to Ernie Clement at shortstop as Charles McAdoo starts at second base. Gimenez is slashing .267/.313/.400 with one home and one steal in 17 games this month around a brief absence due to hamstring soreness. |
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Brett Bateman Brett Bateman Out again Friday
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:27 PM
Bateman (hip) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.
Analysis: Bateman hasn't played since Monday due to right hip discomfort, but his MRI was negative and the Blue Jays have not officially closed the door on him playing again this season. Charles McAdoo will get a turn in the leadoff spot Friday against left-hander Nick Lodolo. |
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John Klein John Klein Recalled from Buffalo
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 2:01 PM
The Blue Jays recalled Klein from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
Analysis: Klein has spent nearly all of the 2026 campaign at the Triple-A level, holding a 6.36 ERA and 95:51 K:BB over 86.1 innings. The 24-year-old will be available to absorb some innings this weekend as the Blue Jays close out the regular season. |
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CJ Van Eyk CJ Van Eyk Sent down by Blue Jays
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 1:56 PM
The Blue Jays optioned Van Eyk to the Florida Complex League on Friday.
Analysis: Van Eyk covered five innings and allowed four runs in his first major-league start Wednesday versus the Orioles. He's being replaced on the roster by a fresh bullpen arm. |
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CJ Van Eyk CJ Van Eyk Provides innings in Wednesday's nightcap
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:41 AM
Van Eyk (0-2) took the loss in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles, giving up four runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.
Analysis: The 28-year-old right-hander didn't pitch poorly in his first career start, but he got hit hard when Baltimore batters did make contact as three of the hits off Van Eyk went for extra bases, including a solo shot by Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the fourth inning. Van Eyk's first taste of the majors this season didn't go particularly well, as he sports a 5.40 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and meager 3:2 K:BB through five appearances and 11.2 innings for the Blue Jays. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Fans seven in Wednesday's loss
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:37 AM
Scherzer (3-9) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Getting swept in the twin bill officially eliminated the Blue Jays from playoff contention, but Scherzer went down firing as he tossed 60 of 93 pitches for strikes. The 42-year-old right-hander has a 4.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB over his last six starts and 32.2 innings, but his personal campaign may not be done -- after Wednesday's performance, Scherzer sits four career strikeouts behind former teammate Justin Verlander (hamstring) for eighth place on MLB's all-time list. Toronto manager suggested before Wednesday's outing that Scherzer could pitch again at home Sunday versus Cincinnati in the regular-season finale, both to give a potential farewell to home fans and to try and catch Verlander. |
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George Springer George Springer Sitting for second game Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:46 PM
Springer is not in the starting lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
Analysis: Toronto was eliminated from postseason contention with a loss in the first game of the day, so naturally veterans Springer and Vladimir Guerrero are sitting for the nightcap. Springer is closing out a disappointing age-36 season after a resurgent 2025. |
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Jose Rodriguez Jose Rodriguez Optioned to spring complex
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:45 PM
The Blue Jays optioned Rodriguez to their spring training complex on Wednesday.
Analysis: Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against Baltimore, bringing him to 4.2 shutout frames in MLB this season, but he'll be cast off the active roster ahead of the nightcap. With Dylan Cease (shoulder) moving to the injured list between games, Chase Lee and CJ Van Eyk will come up from Triple-A to fill the holes in Toronto's pitching staff. |
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CJ Van Eyk CJ Van Eyk Recalled from Triple-A
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:39 PM
The Blue Jays recalled Van Eyk from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.
Analysis: Van Eyk will join Chase Lee in moving to Toronto's bullpen to make up for the loss of Dylan Cease (shoulder) and Jose Rodriguez. Van Eyk has allowed three earned runs on 11 hits and two walks during his time with the Jays this season and will likely be limited to low-leverage work in the majors. |
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Sitting for nightcap
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:39 PM
Guerrero is not in the starting lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
Analysis: The Blue Jays were officially eliminated from postseason contention with a loss in the matinee, and Guerrero will rest for the nightcap. The slugging first baseman, who went 1-for-4 with a double in Game 1, is in danger of finishing the year with an OPS below .700, after closing the 2025 regular season with an .848 mark. |
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Chase Lee Chase Lee Up from Buffalo
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:35 PM
The Blue Jays recalled Lee from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.
Analysis: With Dylan Cease (shoulder) landing on the injured list and Jose Rodriguez moving off the active roster, Lee will come up from the minors to replenish Toronto's bullpen depth. The 28-year-old has turned in a 2.01 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 53.2 innings in the minors this year but will likely be limited to low-leverage work with the Jays after coughing up seven earned runs in just eight MLB frames. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Done for season
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:30 PM
The Blue Jays placed Cease on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder inflammation.
Analysis: The Blue Jays have already confirmed that Cease's shoulder will not require surgery, but with less than a week remaining in the regular season and Toronto out of the race for a wild-card spot, the 30-year-old's move to the injured list will officially end his season. He enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his career during his first year in Toronto, registering a 2.40 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out a career-high 239 batters in 169 innings (29 starts). |
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Late addition to matinee lineup
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 12:08 PM
Guerrero (back) will start at first base and bat second in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Guerrero was not included in the initial lineup, but he did some hitting on the field pregame and convinced Blue Jays manager John Schneider that he was ready to play. Vlad Jr. had exited Sunday's contest versus the Rangers and didn't play Monday because of lower-back tightness. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Option for short-rest start Sunday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 11:13 AM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Scherzer could pitch on short rest Sunday versus the Reds, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Scherzer is starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore, but it might not be his final outing of the season. Bringing the 42-year-old back on short rest could serve two purposes. One is that the impending free agent would get to pitch in front of the home crowd in Toronto one more time. Another is that Scherzer is currently 11 strikeouts behind Justin Verlander on the all-time list, so he could pad that total this weekend. Scherzer has yet to commit one way or another in regard to continuing his career in 2027. |
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Brett Bateman Brett Bateman Day-to-day after negative MRI
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 10:50 AM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that an MRI on Bateman's right hip came back negative, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Bateman is dealing with some inflammation in his hip, but he has a chance to play later this week if he bounces back well in the coming days. While Bateman recuperates, Myles Straw is covering center field for the Blue Jays in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore. |
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Brett Bateman Brett Bateman Absent from lineup
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 10:14 AM
Bateman (hip) is absent from the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles.
Analysis: Bateman was lifted from Monday's contest due to right hip discomfort and is considered day-to-day. Myles Straw will patrol center field and will bat eighth for the Blue Jays while Bateman recuperates. |
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