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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Heading in for MRI
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 9:17 PM
Lukes will receive an MRI on his left hamstring after leaving Friday's game against Cleveland, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lukes felt discomfort in his hamstring after hitting a leadoff double in the first inning of Friday's contest, causing him to come out of the game early. Manager John Schneider said after the game that Lukes compared his soreness to that of a cramp, but the Jays will still have him undergo imaging to make sure he isn't dealing with any structural damage. More will be known regarding his injury when the results come back Saturday, and Myles Straw could pick up starts in the outfield if Lukes sits out a game or two. |
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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Exits with injury
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 6:35 PM
Lukes was removed from Friday's game against the Guardians with left hamstring discomfort, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lukes hit a double to lead off the first inning but apparently tweaked his hamstring while running and was replaced on the bases immediately afterward. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but if he ends up needing to miss additional time, Myles Straw would be in line to make extra starts in the outfield. |
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George Springer George Springer Hitting, running pregame Friday
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 6:01 PM
Springer (toe) is hitting on the field and running ahead of Friday's game against the Guardians and could return to running the bases within the next few days, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM earlier Friday that Springer could be reinstated from the IL "maybe just even [in] a day or two," but that never appeared to be a likely possibility. The veteran slugger is already eligible to be reinstated to the active roster, but he'll need some more time to complete his running program. It also remains to be seen if Springer will require a brief rehab assignment before being activated. |
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Addison Barger Addison Barger Ramping up baseball work
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 5:43 PM
Barger (ankles) is ramping up his baseball activities, with the next steps in his rehab program being running the bases and hitting live pitching, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The 26-year-old continues to work his way back from the sprains in both ankles he sustained in early April, and he appears to be getting close to being cleared for game action. Barger will need a multi-game rehab assignment in the minors before coming off the injured list, so he's likely still at least a week or two away from potentially rejoining the Blue Jays. |
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Jose Berrios Jose Berrios Scheduled for Triple-A rehab start
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 5:13 PM
Berrios (elbow) is scheduled to make his next rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Berrios has made two rehab starts with Single-A Dunedin most recently Wednesday against Fort Myers, when he allowed three hits and struck out five batters without issuing a walk over four scoreless innings. He'll now shift his rehab assignment over to Triple-A, and he'll likely need at least two more starts without suffering a setback before being cleared to make his major-league season debut with the Blue Jays. |
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Tyler Fitzgerald Tyler Fitzgerald Pushed off 40-man
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 4:51 PM
The Blue Jays designated Fitzgerald for assignment Friday.
Analysis: The 28-year-old will cede his place on the 40-man roster to Will MacIver, whom the Jays acquired in a trade with the Rangers on Friday. Fitzgerald has spent the entire season in Triple-A, slashing just .094/.147/.125 across 34 plate appearances. |
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Willie MacIver Willie MacIver Heading to Toronto
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 4:49 PM
The Blue Jays acquired MacIver from the Rangers on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
Analysis: MacIver will now be a part of Toronto's organization after he was designated for assignment by Texas on Thursday, and he has been subsequently been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He gives the Blue Jays additional depth at the catcher position while Alejandro Kirk continues to recover from a fractured left thumb and with C.J. Stubbs (undisclosed) on the 7-day minor-league injured list. Tyler Fitzgerald was DFA'd by the Blue Jays in a corresponding move. |
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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage Next step undetermined
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 3:23 PM
GM Ross Atkins said Friday that the Blue Jays are still discussing whether Yesavage (shoulder) will need another minor-league rehab start or if his next outing will come in the majors, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The right-hander has already made five rehab starts in the minor leagues, though his last outing Tuesday with Triple-A Buffalo lasted just 2.1 frames and 64 pitches. The Blue Jays were hoping to get Yesavage built up to about 75 pitches before adding him to the big-league rotation, so he seems likely to need another game in the minors. If that's the case, the 22-year-old could still make his season debut as early as next weekend in Minnesota. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Enters closer committee
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 2:37 PM
Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins announced Friday that Varland will be part of Toronto's closer committee with Jeff Hoffman being demoted as the club's primary closer, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Hoffman, who recorded 37 saves during the 2025 regular season, could still get some usage in the ninth inning, but Varland now appears to be the favorite for saves in Toronto. The right-hander's fantasy upside is still likely to be more limited than a traditional closer, however, with the Blue Jays expected to mix in other relievers for saves in addition to Varland and Hoffman. That being said, Varland has yet to allow an earned run and has a 19:3 K:BB across 13 innings this season, so he could take full reins of the job if he continues that level of dominance. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Drops into closer committee
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 2:30 PM
GM Ross Atkins announced Friday that Hoffman could still see occasional save chances but will no longer be the primary closer as the Blue Jays shift to a committee approach, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Manager John Schneider was noncommittal about Hoffman as Toronto's closer earlier this week after the reliever near blew his fourth save of the season, so it's not a major surprise the club is making a change. It doesn't appear to be a full demotion for the 33-year-old right-hander, who recorded 33 saves with a 4.37 ERA during the 2025 regular season, but it also wouldn't be surprising for him to get some work in lower-leverage spots. Hoffman has surrendered nine earned runs with a 24:6 K:BB across 10.2 innings this year. Louis Varland was the only other player mentioned as a potential closer, but the Blue Jays are also expected to utilize some other arms for the ninth inning. |
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George Springer George Springer Could return this weekend
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 12:03 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Springer (toe) could return in "a couple more days... maybe just even a day or two."
Analysis: Springer is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list for the start of Friday's series with the Guardians, but it doesn't sound like he's going to get the green light to meet that timeline. A return to action by Sunday could be in the cards, however. Springer has been out since fracturing a toe April 11, but he's been hitting and doing mobility drills over the past week. The veteran slugger was batting .185 (10-for-54) through 14 games with two homers and six RBI when he fouled a ball off his foot. |
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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Stays hot Wednesday
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:56 AM
Lukes went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Angels.
Analysis: The 31-year-old outfielder has seen his bat come to life since getting on a treatment program for a case of vertigo that had been plaguing him since spring training. Over the last six games, Lukes is batting .500 (10-for-20) with three doubles, three runs and six RBI, and he's taken over the leadoff spot against right-handed pitching. He might lose that role once George Springer (toe) is off the IL, but Lukes should remain near the top of the order against RHP as long as he stays locked in at the plate. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Three hits in Wednesday's loss
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:51 AM
Clement went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Angels.
Analysis: The 30-year-old infielder extended his hitting streak to seven games, but Wednesday's RBI was actually his first during that stretch despite hitting .400 (12-for-30). Clement doesn't offer much more than a strong batting average for fantasy purposes, posting a .320/.327/.420 slash line through 24 contests on the season with 10 doubles, zero homers, one steal, six RBI and eight runs. |
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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage May need another rehab start
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:45 AM
Yesavage (shoulder) could make another rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo before coming off the injured list, Max Ralph of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The 22-year-old right-hander built up to 64 pitches in his most recent outing Tuesday but was far from sharp, giving up four runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks over 2.1 innings while striking out two. The Blue Jays would like Yesavage to reach about 75 pitches before adding him to the big-league rotation. If he remains at Buffalo for another turn, Patrick Corbin and Eric Lauer will each get another chance to state their case for remaining in the rotation once Yesavage is activated. |
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Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Making case to remain in rotation
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:40 AM
Corbin may not be the pitcher bumped from the rotation when Trey Yesavage (shoulder) comes off the IL, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The veteran southpaw has been surprisingly effective in three starts since being added to an injury-depleted Blue Jays rotation, delivering a 3.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB over 14.2 innings. During that same stretch, Eric Lauer has a 7.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB over 15.1 innings in his three outings. Lauer also has more experience pitching out of the bullpen, although manager John Schneider curiously described Corbin as "versatile" last week despite the fact that 236 of his last 237 big-league appearances dating back to 2018 have been starts. Yesavage built up to 64 pitches in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday and likely needs at least one more outing before he's ready to come off the IL, so Schneider may be able to hold off deciding which of the two lefties stays in the rotation until early May. |
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Jose Berrios Jose Berrios Sharp in second rehab start
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:33 AM
Berrios (elbow) struck out five over four shutout innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Single-A Dunedin. He scattered three hits and didn't issue a walk.
Analysis: Per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Berrios topped out at 94.6 miles per hour and averaged 93.5 mph with his fastball, a tick above his average from the 2025 season. Berrios now has two outings under his belt with Dunedin and will likely join a higher-level affiliate for his next start as he continues to get stretched back out after opening the season on the shelf due to a minor stress fracture in his elbow. The right-hander tossed 55 pitches Wednesday, so he may need two more starts in the minors before potentially returning from the injured list and joining the Toronto rotation. |
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Eric Lauer Eric Lauer Goes five innings in no-decision
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 6:03 PM
Lauer did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Angels, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: While Lauer avoided a fourth-straight loss Wednesday, the left-hander has yet to make it through six innings in five outings this season. Overall, Lauer is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 19:12 K:BB across 22.2 innings. He's currently slated to face the Red Sox at home his next time out. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Manager noncommittal on closer role
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 1:59 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider did not commit to Hoffman as his closer when asked Wednesday if he would consider using other relievers in the ninth inning, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: Schneider said he's "not ready to make a firm comment" on the closer role, noting that he wants to have a discussion with Hoffman before announcing a decision. Hoffman was pulled from a save chance Tuesday versus the Angels with the bases loaded and one run already in. He was relieved by Louis Varland, who closed things out by inducing a game-ending double-play ball on the one and only pitch he threw. Hoffman has struck out 24 in 10.2 innings this season, but he's walked six, blown three saves and posted a 7.59 ERA and 2.06 WHIP. If Schneider does opt for a change at closer, Varland should be next in line. |
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Eloy Jimenez Eloy Jimenez Hitting bench Wednesday
Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 11:56 AM
Jimenez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Analysis: Following a stretch of four consecutive starts at designated hitter, Jimenez will take a seat for the series finale while Vladimir Guerrero covers the DH spot and Lenyn Sosa enters the lineup at first base. Since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on April 12, Jimenez has gone 8-for-21 (.381 average) with three walks against four strikeouts, but his opportunities remain likely to dry up once the Blue Jays get either of George Springer (toe) or Addison Barger (ankle) back from the injured list. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Saves Toronto after Hoffman's dud
Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 11:20 PM
Varland collected the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Angels, needing just one pitch to collect the final two outs of the ninth inning.
Analysis: Jeff Hoffman got the call to protect the team's 4-1 lead in the ninth. However, Hoffman's control was all over the place, hitting two batters and allowing one run and two hits with just one out. That prompted Blue Jays manager John Schneider to quickly turn to Varland to get the team out of a bases-loaded jam, and the latter saved the day for Toronto on just one pitch by getting Nolan Schanuel to ground out into a double play. It was the first save of Varland's career, and the 28-year-old right-hander has yet to give up an earned run across 12.2 innings this season. Given how Schneider went to Varland in an incredibly high-leverage situation, it appears Hoffman's grip on the Blue Jays' closing job has officially slipped. |
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