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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Records save Saturday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 4:56 PM
Hoffman notched a save against the Pirates on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in a scoreless inning.
Analysis: Hoffman entered in the ninth inning with Toronto holding a three-run lead and dominated with three punchouts, throwing nine of 13 pitches for strikes. The save was Hoffman's second in the past three days after he lost his hold on the closer role in late April. Louis Varland has since taken up that mantle and has thrived, but he was presumably unavailable Saturday after tossing two frames en route to a save Friday. With that in mind, Hoffman probably isn't a reliable target for saves moving forward, though he's pitched relatively well in May, giving up four earned runs while recording a 13:1 K:BB over 10.1 innings spanning 11 appearances. |
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Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Fires six innings in win
Sat, May 23, 2026, 4:51 PM
Corbin (2-1) earned the win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.
Analysis: Corbin looked to be in for a tough matchup with Paul Skenes working as the opposing starter, but the veteran lefty excelled in route to the victory. Corbin completed six innings for the first time on the campaign and notched a season-high seven punchouts while throwing 57 of 84 pitches for strikes. He hadn't been able to finish five frames in either of his past two starts, so this was a great bounce-back effort. Corbin will carry a 3.86 season ERA into his next start, which lines up as a road tilt in Baltimore. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Continues ramp up
Sat, May 23, 2026, 12:13 PM
Scherzer (forearm) threw around 30 pitches in a bullpen session Friday at Rogers Centre, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The Blue Jays are still working through his next steps -- he could throw another bullpen session or throw live batting practice in Toronto. Once he throws to live hitters, he'll go on a rehab assignment, per Zwelling. |
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Kazuma Okamoto Kazuma Okamoto Resting Saturday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 12:06 PM
Okamoto isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis: Okamoto will get a chance to regroup Saturday after going 0-for-16 with 10 strikeouts in his last four games. Ernie Clement will slide to third base as a result, opening up second base for Lenyn Sosa. |
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Brandon Valenzuela Brandon Valenzuela Sitting down Saturday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 12:04 PM
Valenzuela isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.
Analysis: Valenzuela lost his four-game hitting streak Friday, but he still reached base twice on a pair of walks, scored a run and stole a base en route to a victory. He'll get a chance to rest his legs Saturday while Tyler Heineman starts at catcher. |
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Addison Barger Addison Barger Could resume hitting Sunday
Sat, May 23, 2026, 11:38 AM
The Blue Jays are hopeful Barger (elbow) will resume hitting and throwing Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Barger dealt with bilateral discomfort in both ankles early in April before landing on the IL with a left ankle sprain April 7. He returned May 9, but then on May 10, right elbow soreness required an MRI and he was placed on the IL with inflammation May 11. If he gets the green light to resume baseball activities, it might not be long before he embarks on another rehab assignment, but so far this has been a lost season for Barger. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Could begin rehab stint next week
Sat, May 23, 2026, 9:42 AM
Kirk (thumb) will be evaluated by the Blue Jays training staff this weekend as he prepares to take the next step in his rehab, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The backstop has been catching bullpens and taking live BP at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin. Assuming Kirk's surgically repaired thumb checks out OK, he could be cleared for a rehab assignment. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since April 3, and his return to the big-league lineup appears to be drawing close. Brandon Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman will continue to split duties behind the plate until Kirk is activated from the IL. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Swipes bag in win
Fri, May 22, 2026, 10:01 PM
Clement went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, one run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 6-2 win over the Pirates.
Analysis: Clement contributed throughout the game, stealing a base in the second inning and drawing a walk in the sixth before adding a double and scoring in the eighth. The 30-year-old is in the midst of a modest five-game hitting streak that includes five extra-base hits, four RBI and four runs scored. For the year, he's slashing .297/.323/.432 with three homers, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored and two stolen bases across 201 plate appearances. |
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Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman Strikes out eight in win
Fri, May 22, 2026, 9:49 PM
Gausman (4-3) earned the win against the Pirates on Friday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings
Analysis: Gausman allowed a run in the first inning but settled in from there, throwing 65 of 94 pitches for strikes while generating a whopping 19 whiffs, including nine on his splitter. The veteran has now delivered seven quality starts while yielding three earned runs or fewer in nine of 11 outings this season. He'll carry a 3.23 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 61:10 K:BB across 64 innings into a home matchup against the Marlins next week. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Earns two-inning save
Fri, May 22, 2026, 9:44 PM
Varland earned the save in Friday's 6-2 win over the Pirates, striking out three without allowing a baserunner over two scoreless innings.
Analysis: Varland was called on to protect a 3-1 lead with two men on and no outs in the eighth inning and escaped the jam while allowing one inherited runner to score. He then returned for the ninth after the Blue Jays tacked on three more runs and retired the side once again. It marked the second time the 28-year-old has logged two frames in his past four outings, and he's now yielded just two earned runs through 25 appearances this season. Overall, he's 7-for-7 in save chances with a 0.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings. |
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Yimi Garcia Yimi Garcia Throws bullpen Friday
Fri, May 22, 2026, 4:18 PM
Manager John Schneider said Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Garcia hasn't pitched in the big leagues yet this season after undergoing a cleanup procedure on his elbow last September. He was sent out on a rehab assignment earlier this month but experienced a setback after just one outing. Garcia threw 30 pitches in Friday's bullpen and will look to avoid further issues, and he could make his return to Toronto's staff as soon as next week. |
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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Could be off IL on Monday
Fri, May 22, 2026, 4:14 PM
Lukes (hamstring) will travel to Toronto on Monday to determine whether he will be activated off the 10-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Lukes will be in the lineup for Single-A Dunedin over the weekend, and if he's progressed enough in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, then he could be reinstated from the IL for the start of Monday's home series against the Marlins. Yohendrick Pinango or Davis Schneider could be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster if Lukes is cleared to return. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Beginning rehab assignment Monday
Fri, May 22, 2026, 3:56 PM
Bieber (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Bieber is still a ways away from making his 2026 debut with the Blue Jays, but this is a start for the right-hander, who is aiming to pitch two innings Monday. He'll then aim for three innings in his next outing, according to Zwelling. Bieber will likely need a handful of rehab starts before joining the Toronto rotation. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Back in lineup Friday
Fri, May 22, 2026, 2:47 PM
Sanchez (chest) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis: Sanchez will play right field and bat seventh against right-hander Bubba Chandler. Sanchez was removed from Wednesday's contest against the Yankees and didn't start Thursday's series finale with left-hander Carlos Rodon on the mound. Sanchez has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games, raising his slash line to .277/.316/.426 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 16 runs scored, one stolen base and a 7:29 BB:K across 155 trips to the plate. |
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Eloy Jimenez Eloy Jimenez Back with Toronto on minors deal
Fri, May 22, 2026, 2:42 PM
The Blue Jays signed Jimenez to a minor-league contract Friday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Jimenez appeared in 12 games with Toronto last month and slashed .290/.343/.290 with zero extra-base hits, three RBI, two runs scored and a 3:7 BB:K across 35 plate appearances. He was DFA'd by Toronto on April 29 and elected free agency. After not finding any suitors elsewhere, the 29-year-old rejoins the organization as outfield depth. |
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Adam Macko Adam Macko Credited with first MLB win
Fri, May 22, 2026, 9:41 AM
Macko (1-0) gave up a hit and struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings of relief Thursday to record the win over the Yankees.
Analysis: Braydon Fisher worked 1.1 scoreless frames as the opener before passing the torch to Macko in what ended up being a 2-0 combined shutout for the Blue Jays staff. It was the 25-year-old southpaw's first win in his third MLB appearance, and through three innings Macko has yet to give up a run with a 3:0 K:BB. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Barrage of XBH in win
Fri, May 22, 2026, 9:37 AM
Clement went 3-for-4 with three doubles in Thursday's win over the Yankees.
Analysis: The Blue Jays managed only seven hits in total in a 2-0 victory, but Clement stayed hot with two-baggers off three different pitchers. The 30-year-old infielder is slashing .375/.405/.600 over his last 12 games with five total extra-base hits, six RBI and eight runs. |
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George Springer George Springer Belts fourth homer
Fri, May 22, 2026, 9:34 AM
Springer went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Yankees.
Analysis: The veteran hitter took Camilo Doval deep in the seventh inning, giving the Blue Jays a valuable insurance run in an eventual 2-0 victory. Springer has a modest four-game hit streak going in which he's launched two of his four homers on the season, but since returning from a fractured toe in late April he's slashing just .212/.268/.318 over 17 games with four RBI and seven runs. |
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Spencer Miles Spencer Miles Workload being monitored
Fri, May 22, 2026, 9:30 AM
Miles is viewed as purely a short-term option for the rotation by the Blue Jays, and manager John Schneider said after Thursday's game that the organization has "off ramps" in mind to return the right-hander to the bullpen, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Toronto appears to have found a gem in the Rule 5 pick, as Miles has a 2.17 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB over his first 29 MLB innings. That's already more than double his prior career innings total as a professional, however, as the 25-year-old has struggled to stay healthy since being a fourth-round pick of the Giants in 2022. Miles is plugging a hole in the rotation for now, but the organization doesn't want to over-extend him, and the projected June returns of Max Scherzer (forearm/thumb/ankle) and Shane Bieber (elbow) would provide those "off ramps" to get the rookie back to a sheltered long relief role. |
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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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