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George Springer George Springer Out with nagging shoulder issue
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 1:26 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Springer is not in Wednesday's lineup versus the Athletics due to a nagging left shoulder and other bumps and bruises, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's the second straight day Springer has been held out and the fourth time over the last seven contests that he's been absent from the Toronto lineup. Springer is available off the bench Wednesday and there's a good chance he'll be back in the Blue Jays' lineup Friday when they return home to host the Orioles. Alejandro Kirk is getting a day at designated hitter Wednesday. |
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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Day off against lefty
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 11:55 AM
Lukes is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.
Analysis: With lefty Brady Basso making the start for the Athletics, Lukes will take a seat after starting each of the past nine contests. Brett Bateman will shift over to right field, with Myles Straw making the start in center. Lukes is hitting .343 with a .743 OPS across 35 plate appearances this month. |
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Michael Lorenzen Michael Lorenzen Could pitch in bulk relief
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 8:28 AM
Lorenzen could be deployed in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Braydon Fisher during Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: With Jameson Taillon (elbow) recently heading back to the injured list, the Blue Jays have an opening in the rotation. Though Fisher will technically make his ninth start of the season Wednesday, he hasn't recorded more than four outs in any of those prior eight outings and will likely exit the game at some point before the end of the second inning. Toronto could lean on a number of relievers to finish out the contest, but Lorenzen is one of the most well-rested members of the bullpen who is capable of offering length. He'll be available to pitch on four days' rest after tossing three innings and 33 pitches in his most recent appearance Friday in Kansas City. |
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Braydon Fisher Braydon Fisher Operating as opener Wednesday
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 8:21 AM
Fisher will serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher Wednesday in a bullpen game against the Athletics, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Fisher will draw his ninth opener assignment of the season, but he didn't record more than four outs in any of those prior eight starts and will likely face a similarly light workload Wednesday. Michael Lorenzen will be available to pitch on four days' rest and could be capable of providing some length behind Fisher after tossing three innings and 33 pitches in his most recent relief appearance. |
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George Springer George Springer Exiting starting nine Tuesday
Tue, Sep 8, 2026, 5:58 PM
Springer is not in Toronto's lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the A's.
Analysis: Springer has not been in two of the past three starting lineups. The 36-year-old went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts during Monday's series opener against the Athletics. Jesus Sanchez will slot in as the designated hitter and bat eighth for Toronto. |
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Anthony Santander Anthony Santander Kicking off rehab assignment Wednesday
Mon, Sep 7, 2026, 7:40 PM
Santander (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Santander will serve as the designated hitter initially and then start playing the outfield again, as the Blue Jays' plan for the veteran is for him to be mainly an outfielder with the big-league club. In two seasons with Toronto, Santander has appeared in just 54 games, including zero this season. He slashed a miserable .175/.271/.294 last season with six home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored and a 25:61 BB:K across 221 trips to the plate. Anything the team gets from the soon-to-be 32-year-old (next month) should be viewed as a bonus. Santander appears likely to return before the end of the regular season. |
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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage Close to facing hitters
Mon, Sep 7, 2026, 2:03 PM
Yesavage (knee) is expected to face hitters in live batting practice Thursday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Yesavage checked out fine following a 23-pitch bullpen session Friday and is set to throw off a mound again Monday before advancing to facing hitters. Assuming the young right-hander steers clear of any setbacks in his recovery from meniscus surgery as he moves through his throwing program, he should be on track to return from the 15-day injured list before the end of the season. However, Yesavage likely won't be stretched out enough to handle a traditional starting role once he's activated and could act as more of an opener or get deployed in a piggyback arrangement with another pitcher. |
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Cody Ponce Cody Ponce Could be healthy by October
Mon, Sep 7, 2026, 12:42 PM
Manager John Schneider said that Ponce (knee) would be a candidate to return from the 60-day injured list only if the Blue Jays make the postseason and advanced deep into October, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Schneider's comments come as little surprise, as Ponce's 2026 campaign was already expected to be over after he tore the ACL in his right knee in his Blue Jays debut March 30 and required surgery a few weeks later. On a positive note, the fact that Ponce hasn't completely been ruled out from pitching if the Blue Jays make a deep playoff run suggests that his recovery has thus far gone smoothly, and he's on track to be 100 percent for spring training. Ponce is under contract through 2028 after signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Blue Jays back in December following an outstanding 2025 season in the Korea Baseball Organization. |
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Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Likely done for 2026
Mon, Sep 7, 2026, 12:37 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Saturday that Corbin (shoulder) is a "long shot" to return from the 60-day injured list this season, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Corbin was placed on the shelf July 23 due to a left teres major strain and has yet to start up a throwing program more than six weeks later. Even if Corbin turns a corner in his recovery in the next week or two, he doesn't look like he'll have enough time to build back up even for a relief role. The 37-year-old lefty looks set to finish the 2026 campaign with a 3-4 record and one save to go with a 5.51 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 63:25 K:BB across 80 innings over 19 appearances (15 starts) with Toronto. Corbin will be headed for free agency this winter, and if he wants to keep his career going, he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal. |
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Josh Smith Josh Smith Supplies only offense in Sunday's loss
Mon, Sep 7, 2026, 10:38 AM
Smith went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Royals.
Analysis: Getting the start at second base and batting seventh, Smith provided the Blue Jays with their only offense when he got hold of a Randy Dobnak sweeper in the sixth inning and hooked it down the right-field line. The 29-year-old utility player has been making an impact at the plate since being picked up from Texas at the trade deadline, slashing .257/.381/.600 in 44 plate appearances with four homers, five RBI and 11 runs despite missing 11 games with a hamstring strain. Smith has mainly played second base and third base with Toronto, but he has experience in left field and could get more time there down the stretch with neither Jesus Sanchez nor Myles Straw looking like adequate options for a team still in the playoff race. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Struggles continue in loss
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 9:46 PM
Arrighetti (7-9) took the loss against the Royals on Sunday, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Arrighetti never quite found his footing Sunday, coughing up three runs in the first inning. The right-hander's effectiveness continues to take a tailspin, as he's given up at least four runs in six of his last 13 outings while working fewer than five innings in five straight. He'll take an 8.04 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB over 15.2 innings for Toronto into his next scheduled appearance against the Tigers. |
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Myles Straw Myles Straw Retreating to bench
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 1:21 PM
Straw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Analysis: Straw will take a seat for the series finale, but he may have at least pushed his way into a timeshare in the outfield with Jesus Sanchez. The Blue Jays kept Sanchez on the bench for all but one of the previous seven games, while Straw was included in the lineup for each of the other six games. Straw is slashing .241/.309/.366 since the All-Star break, and while his .675 OPS during that span trails Sanchez's .693 mark, Straw makes up for that difference by providing superior defensive and baserunning value. |
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George Springer George Springer Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:47 AM
Springer isn't in the starting lineup against Kansas City on Sunday.
Analysis: Springer will get at least a partial day off for the second time over Toronto's past four games. He's scuffled a bit to start September, going 2-for-17 through four games but has three RBI during that span. Vladimir Guerrero is getting a day off his feet as the Blue Jays' DH in the series finale versus the Royals. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Not in lineup Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:10 AM
Clement isn't starting versus Kansas City on Sunday.
Analysis: Clement started each of Toronto's past five contests but will begin Sunday on the bench. Josh Smith is starting at second base against KC starter Randy Dobnak. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Yielding to Valenzuela on Sunday
Sun, Sep 6, 2026, 11:06 AM
Kirk isn't in the starting lineup Sunday against Kansas City.
Analysis: Kirk will get a breather after starting the Blue Jays' past two games behind the plate and going 3-for-10 with two RBI during that span. Brandon Valenzuela is getting a turn at catcher for Toronto in the series finale versus the Royals. |
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Kazuma Okamoto Kazuma Okamoto Collects four hits in victory
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 11:10 PM
Okamoto went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over Kansas City.
Analysis: Okamoto broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning with a run-scoring double. After the Royals tied things up in the fourth, Okamoto again unknotted the score in the seventh frame with a single that plated what turned out to be the winning run. The rookie third baseman finished with the first four-hit effort of his MLB career while logging multiple knocks for the first time since Aug. 20. Okamoto is at a .233/.305/.445 slash line with 28 home runs, 23 doubles, 81 RBI, 73 runs and one stolen base through 137 games on the season. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Cruises to 33rd save
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:51 PM
Varland earned a save against the Royals on Saturday, striking out one batter in one perfect inning.
Analysis: Varland had no wiggle room when he entered in the ninth inning tasked with protecting a one-run lead. The right-hander didn't flinch, retiring the side in order on 13 pitches (10 strikes). Varland registered his 11th straight scoreless appearance, and he's gone 9-for-9 in save opportunities while recording a 13:3 K:BB across 12 innings during that span. He entered the campaign without a single save to his ledger over 112 career regular-season MLB appearances, but Varland has blossomed as Toronto's closer in 2026, as he ranks fourth in the majors with 33 saves in 34 chances. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Hangs tough after rough first inning
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:41 PM
Scherzer allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Saturday.
Analysis: Scherzer began his outing by allowing four straight batters to reach base on a hit-by-pitch, a double and two singles. That resulted in two Royals runs before the veteran hurler had recorded an out. Scherzer was able to bounce back, however, allowing just one more run and completing 5.2 frames on a an efficient -- especially in light of how his start began -- 76 pitches. This wasn't anywhere close in quality to the 10-strikeout, seven-inning scoreless appearance Scherzer posted in his previous start, but it was nonetheless a gritty effort that ultimately helped his team to a win. After registering a 10.23 ERA across his first six starts this season, Scherzer has given up three or fewer earned runs in seven of his subsequent eight outings. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Now lined up to start Sunday
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:27 PM
Arrighetti will start against the Royals on Sunday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: A previous report had indicated that Arrighetti would be pitching behind an opener for a second straight outing, but it now appears the right-hander will work as a traditional starter. Arrighetti has struggled to a 6.55 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with a 10:5 K:BB over 11 innings across three starts as a Blue Jay, and he hasn't thrown more than 79 pitches in any of those outings, so he's a very shaky fantasy play despite the favorable matchup. |
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Spencer Arrighetti Spencer Arrighetti Slated for bulk-relief role Sunday
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 9:28 PM
Arrighetti is expected to work in bulk relief behind an opener Sunday versus Kansas City, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Arrighetti is slated to work behind an opener for the third time in what will be his fourth outing since joining Toronto. The right-hander has struggled as a member of the Blue Jays regardless of his role, as he's given up nine runs (eight earned) over 11 innings so far. Zwelling suggests that Arrighetti will be available for up to 85 pitches Sunday. It's unclear who will serve as the opener, but Spencer Miles worked in that capacity for Arrighetti's last appearance and may do the same Sunday. |
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