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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Sitting against lefty
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 4:27 PM
Sanchez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: The Blue Jays will spare the left-handed-hitting Sanchez from a matchup with a tough lefty in Cristopher Sanchez and give him a breather in the series opener. With Sanchez on the bench, Toronto will go with Nathan Lukes and Yohendrick Pinango as its starters in the corner outfield. |
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Brandon Valenzuela Brandon Valenzuela Resting after big weekend
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 4:24 PM
Valenzuela is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Tyler Heineman will step in behind the plate for the series opener while Valenzuela gets a well-deserved breather following a productive weekend series against the Orioles. Valenzuela caught all three games against Baltimore, going 5-for-9 with two home runs, two doubles, one walk, five RBI and three runs. Though he currently sits atop the depth chart at catcher, Valenzuela could see his playing time get curbed dramatically as soon as the upcoming weekend, when Alejandro Kirk (thumb) may be ready to return from the 60-day injured list. |
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Addison Barger Addison Barger Ramping up hitting program
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:58 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (elbow) is "making progress" while continuing to ramp up his hitting at the team's complex in Florida, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Along with moving through a hitting progression, Barger has also been able to do some throwing. Barger is working his way back from a bout with right elbow inflammation, which sent him to the injured list May 11, just two days after he returned from a month-long stay on the shelf due to right and left ankle sprains. |
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Spencer Miles Spencer Miles Moving out of rotation
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:47 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Miles will shift into a bullpen role during the upcoming week, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Miles had been filling out a back-end spot in the Blue Jays' injury-plagued rotation for the past month, making two starts and four bulk-relief appearances while pitching to a 3.57 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 22.2 innings. Though the Rule 5 pick acquitted himself well in that capacity, the Blue Jays no longer have room for Miles in their five-man rotation with Dylan Cease (hamstring) and Max Scherzer (forearm) set to return from the 15-day injured list within the next few days. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Could return Friday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:41 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Kirk (thumb) could be available to return from the 60-day injured list as soon as Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kirk is nearing the finish line of a long recovery from left thumb surgery, which has kept him on the shelf since April 4. The 27-year-old began a rehab assignment last week at Single-A Dunedin, making two starts at designated hitter and one at catcher while going 2-for-9 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run. He'll get a couple days of rest before shifting his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, when he's expected to serve as a designated hitter. Schneider added that Kirk is then in line to start at catcher for Buffalo on Wednesday, and if all goes well, the two-time All-Star will rejoin the Blue Jays for Friday's series opener versus the Yankees. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Rejoining rotation Tuesday
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:34 PM
Cease (hamstring) will rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation Tuesday with a start against the Phillies, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Cease made his one and only rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo last Thursday, giving up two home runs and five runs over four innings. He's been sidelined for only two weeks and threw 75 pitches in his rehab outing, so Cease should have close to a full workload at his disposal when taking on the Phillies. The veteran hurler is coming back from a strained left hamstring. |
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Tommy Nance Tommy Nance Back from injured list
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:55 PM
The Blue Jays activated Nance (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Analysis: Nance has been shelved since mid-May with right forearm discomfort but is ready to rejoin the Blue Jays' bullpen following one rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo. The 35-year-old will operate in a middle relief role. |
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Yariel Rodriguez Yariel Rodriguez Removed from 40-man roster
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:43 PM
The Blue Jays designated Rodriguez for assignment Monday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez has made 10 appearances out of the Toronto bullpen this season, putting up a 7.71 ERA and 6:7 K:BB over 9.1 innings. He is likely to go unclaimed on waivers, and assuming that happens, could report to Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Sitting in third straight game
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 2:30 PM
Varsho (wrist) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Varsho will miss out on a third straight start while he tends to left wrist inflammation, but at this stage, the Blue Jays aren't expecting him to require a stint on the injured list. The Blue Jays felt comfortable enough with making Varsho available off the bench for Sunday's 6-4 win over the Orioles, with the 29-year-old checking into that contest in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement in center field. Manager John Schneider told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca that Varsho took another positive step forward in his recovery earlier Monday, hitting off a pitching machine prior to the game "with some pretty good intensity." |
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Brandon Valenzuela Brandon Valenzuela Smacks another homer
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 10:50 PM
Valenzuela went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional RBI during Toronto's 6-4 win over Baltimore on Sunday.
Analysis: Valenzuela contributed to the Blue Jays' five-run sixth inning with an RBI groundout before giving his team an insurance run in the eighth with a solo homer. The rookie catcher has been scorching at the plate recently, having smacked three homers over his last four outings, and his eight deep balls are second-most on the Blue Jays behind Kazuma Okamoto (13). Valenzuela is up to an .822 OPS with 16 RBI and 12 extra-base hits over 135 plate appearances this season. It remains to be seen whether he'll remain on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster once Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is cleared to return from the 60-day injured list. |
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Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman No-decision vs. Baltimore
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 4:58 PM
Gausman did not factor into Sunday's decision against the Orioles, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out five across five innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Gausman was dominant through four innings, limiting the Orioles to just one baserunner over that span. Unfortunately for the right-hander, he proceeded to give up four runs in the fifth inning, three of which came on home runs from Taylor Ward and Colton Cowser. It was a bit of bad luck for Gausman, as three of those runs wouldn't have happened if Brandon Valenzuela could have squeezed a foul tip that would've ended the inning with a strikeout, which ultimately led to an RBI double from Blaze Alexander. Gausman escaped with the no-decision after his teammates rallied for five runs in the fifth, but he's now given up four runs in back-to-back starts, which has him at a 3.60 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 80 innings this season. His next start is slated for next weekend at home against the Yankees. |
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Yohendrick Pinango Yohendrick Pinango Sparks five-run sixth inning
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 4:48 PM
Pinango went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during the Blue Jays' 6-4 win over the Orioles on Sunday.
Analysis: Shane Baz kept the Blue Jays off the board through the first five innings, but Pinango turned things around for his team with a solo home run in the sixth, the first of five runs in the frame. It was the fourth home run of the season for Pinango, who is slashing .301/.333/.456 with 17 RBI and eight extra-base hits over 108 plate appearances this season. While he's been productive at the plate, Pinango has not been as good in the outfield, which has limited his playing time. He could be facing even less reps in the outfield once Addison Barger (elbow) returns from the injured list. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Records four-out save Sunday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 4:40 PM
Varland collected his 11th save of the season against the Orioles on Sunday, when he allowed one hit while striking out two across 1.1 innings.
Analysis: Varland was brought out in the eighth inning with a man on base, who ended up being stranded after the right-hander struck out Leody Taveras. Varland was brought back out for the ninth and gave up an infield single to Colton Cowser, but the former closed the door on the Orioles with another punchout, marking the 14th time this season that Varland has recorded at least two strikeouts. He's now a perfect 11-for-11 on save opportunities and has a 0.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45:9 K:BB across 34.2 innings this season. |
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Tanner Andrews Tanner Andrews Assigned to Triple-A
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 1:26 PM
The Blue Jays assigned Andrews to Triple-A Buffalo after he cleared waivers Sunday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Andrews was DFA'd by the Blue Jays on Thursday in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Chad Dallas. Andrews went unclaimed off waivers and will return to Buffalo, where he has a 1.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, five saves and a 23:15 K:BB over 21 innings this season. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer On track to start Wednesday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:42 PM
Scherzer (forearm) threw a bullpen session Sunday and expressed confidence that he would be available to pitch against the Phillies on Wednesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Analysis: "[I] checked a lot of boxes, and recovered well... I can tell you I'm good. Yeah, I'll be able to go Wednesday," Scherzer noted after Sunday's bullpen session. He landed on the 15-day injured list in late April due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation and was also dealing with a right thumb issue during his recovery. The Blue Jays are also expecting Dylan Cease (hamstring) to return from the IL in the coming week, giving the team a much-needed boost to its rotation. |
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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Sitting Sunday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 9:49 AM
Lukes is not in Toronto's starting lineup against Baltimore on Sunday.
Analysis: Lukes will take a seat after going 1-for-8 across the first two games of the series. Jesus Sanchez, Myles Straw and Yohendrick Pinango will man the outfield from left to right for the Blue Jays. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Sitting again Sunday
Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 9:48 AM
Varsho (wrist) is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Orioles on Sunday.
Analysis: Varsho will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game while tending to a left wrist injury that popped up in Friday's series opener. The Blue Jays will start Jesus Sanchez, Myles Straw and Yohendrick Pinango in the outfield from left to right. |
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Spencer Miles Spencer Miles Earns win in bulk relief
Sat, Jun 6, 2026, 6:18 PM
Miles (3-1) earned the win in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Orioles, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Analysis: Miles entered in the second inning and allowed a homer to the second batter he faced but was able to settle in for the win, throwing 48 of 73 pitches for strikes and recording five strikeouts despite generating only five whiffs. It was a nice rebound after the 25-year-old surrendered six runs in a starting role Sunday, and he has now yielded two earned runs or fewer while working at least three frames in five of his past six outings. He owns a 3.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 39:13 K:BB across 40.2 innings this season, including two starts and 15 relief appearances. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Secures 10th save
Sat, Jun 6, 2026, 6:08 PM
Varland tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Orioles. He did not record a strikeout.
Analysis: Varland was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and did so on just eight pitches. The 28-year-old is now a perfect 10-for-10 in save chances this season and has gone 17 straight appearances without allowing an earned run. He owns a 0.27 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB across 33.1 innings, with the lone knock on his fantasy value being that he's occasionally been deployed before the ninth frame in other high-leverage situations. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Powers offense in win
Sat, Jun 6, 2026, 5:59 PM
Clement went 2-for-4 with a triple, a three-run home run and three total runs scored in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Orioles.
Analysis: Clement gave the Blue Jays a lead they wouldn't relinquish with a three-run blast in the third inning. The 30-year-old saw his seven-game hitting streak come to an end Friday, but he has still opened June by going 8-for-21 through five contests. For the season, he's slashing .306/.327/.464 with six homers, 25 RBI, 29 runs scored and two steals across 257 plate appearances. |
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