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Kazuma Okamoto Kazuma Okamoto Slugs 17th homer
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 10:00 PM
Okamoto went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a walk in Monday's 4-2 win over the Astros.
Analysis: Okamoto accounted for Toronto's first run of the game when he took Hunter Brown deep to lead off the second inning. He later added a double in the ninth inning. The homer was his 17th of the season and his fourth in the last nine games. The slugger has been very productive lately, hitting .279 with an .863 OPS during the month of June. On the season, Okamoto is slashing .234/.316/.460, though his lofty 32.4 percent strikeout rate continues to cap his offensive profile. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Locks down 16th save
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:44 PM
Varland earned the save Monday against the Astros, striking out one and walking one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Analysis: Varland was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and successfully closed the door, working around a leadoff walk to Yainer Diaz. The right-hander quickly regrouped after the free pass, inducing a double-play groundball and recording a strikeout to secure his 16th save. Varland has now recorded a save in 11 of his last 15 appearances and owns a sparkling 0.84 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 58:12 K:BB across 43 innings on the season. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Fans eight in no-decison
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 9:32 PM
Cease did not factor into the decision Monday against the Astros, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Cease surrendered an early RBI-single by Isaac Paredes in the first inning before settling into a groove, retiring 13 consecutive batters at one point while piling up seven strikeouts during the stretch. The right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth, issuing back-to-back walks and then allowing an RBI single to Jose Altuve that ultimately ended his night. Cease's swing-and-miss stuff remained electric, as he recorded his eighth consecutive outing with at least seven strikeouts. Since the beginning of May, the 30-year-old has posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 61:14 K:BB across 41.2 innings. He is slated to face off against Texas at home next. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Completes bullpen session
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 3:44 PM
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (back) checked out well after throwing a bullpen session Monday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: After developing back spasms, Scherzer was scratched ahead of his scheduled start last Wednesday and placed on the injured list, but the Blue Jays have expressed hope that the veteran righty would be ready to return in close to the minimum 15 days. While Scherzer's ability to get back on a mound without issue seemingly supports the Blue Jays' optimism, he'll still likely need to make it through a few more throwing sessions before Toronto pencils him back into the rotation. The 41-year-old has made just six starts for the big club this season after previously spending time on the shelf due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation. |
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Addison Barger Addison Barger Aiming to start rehab Thursday
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 3:34 PM
Barger (elbow) is targeting Thursday for the beginning of his rehab assignment, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Barger is expected to require about a week's worth of rehab games before being reinstated to the Blue Jays' active roster, setting him up to return in early July if all goes well. The 26-year-old has been shelved since mid-May with right elbow inflammation, and he's played only nine games for Toronto this season because of injuries. |
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Luis Urias Luis Urias Added to roster
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 2:33 PM
The Blue Jays selected Urias' contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
Analysis: Urias was acquired via trade from the Diamondbacks over the weekend after putting up a .939 OPS in 27 games at Triple-A Reno. The 29-year-old will operate as a reserve infielder for the Blue Jays. |
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Yohendrick Pinango Yohendrick Pinango Dispatched to minors
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 2:30 PM
The Blue Jays optioned Pinango to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
Analysis: Pinango has certainly held his own at the big-league level to this point, sporting a .283/.331/.433 batting line with four home runs and a 9:30 BB:K over 136 plate appearances. However, with Daulton Varsho returning from the injured list this past weekend and Addison Barger (elbow) seemingly not far off from being activated, Pinango will head back to Buffalo to play on a regular basis. |
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Lenyn Sosa Lenyn Sosa Beginning rehab assignment
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 10:39 AM
Sosa (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment Monday with the Blue Jays' Arizona Complex League affiliate, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It will be the first game in nearly a month for Sosa, who is working his way back from a right wrist contusion. Sosa is slashing only .195/.207/.283 with one home run and a 1:25 BB:K over 40 games this season between the White Sox and Blue Jays. He does not have any minor-league options remaining, so Sosa will likely be added back to the Blue Jays' active roster once he's physically ready. |
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Yimi Garcia Yimi Garcia Return delayed by soreness
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 8:50 AM
Garcia (elbow) experienced renewed elbow soreness following his most recent rehab appearance June 18 and hasn't pitched since, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The Blue Jays had been anticipating having Garcia pitch Sunday for Triple-A Buffalo, but that didn't end up happening. Per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca, Garcia's fastball was sitting about 93 mph in his last rehab appearance, down from the 95-to-96-mph range he typically sat before he underwent surgery in September to remove scar tissue from his elbow. The 35-year-old right-hander's return date will remain murky until he's able to get back on a mound and demonstrate he's ready to be activated from the 60-day injured list. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Season debut coming Tuesday
Mon, Jun 22, 2026, 8:44 AM
Bieber (elbow) is slated to return from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Astros in Toronto, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Bieber was initially confirmed to start Monday's series opener, but after Dylan Cease had his start Sunday postponed due to inclement weather in Chicago, he and the other four members of the Toronto rotation all ended up being pushed back a day in the pitching schedule. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner will still tentatively line up for a two-start week in his return from the IL, with Bieber's second outing expected to come Sunday at home versus the Rangers. Though Bieber should be close to fully stretched out after reaching five innings in his final two rehab outings, fantasy managers may want to tread carefully with the veteran righty after he had mixed results over his five starts in the minors. Between stops at the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Single-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo, Bieber turned in a 6.88 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB across 17 innings. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Overcomes hip injury
Sun, Jun 21, 2026, 11:31 AM
Clement (hip) had been slated to start at shortstop and bat sixth Sunday against the Cubs before the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Chicago.
Analysis: Clement was held out of the starting nine the previous two games due to left hip soreness, but the injury doesn't look as though it will be a concern for the infielder heading into a seven-game week. Clement made an appearance off the bench in Saturday's 8-6 win, playing three innings at shortstop while going 0-for-2. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Game postponed Sunday
Sun, Jun 21, 2026, 11:31 AM
Cease won't start as scheduled Sunday against the Cubs since the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Cease has surrendered just one run with 18 strikeouts across his past two outings, but his next start will have to wait at least one day due to Mother Nature. The Blue Jays will presumably push their full rotation back a day coming off the postponement, which would line Cease up to start Monday's series opener versus the Astros in Toronto. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Goes yard in return to lineup
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 9:41 PM
Varsho went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Cubs.
Analysis: Returning to the lineup after being out since June 9 due to a wrist issue, Varsho made a quick impact when he turned on a seventh-inning fastball from former teammate Trent Thornton and drove it down the right-field line, producing the Blue Jays' first runs of the game and sparking a wild late comeback. The long ball was Varsho's sixth in 65 games this season, to go along with a .256/.329/.419 slash line, five steals, 20 RBI and 28 runs. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Collects 15th save
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 9:34 PM
Varland struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief to record his 15th save of the season in an 8-6 win over the Cubs. He didn't allow a hit or a walk.
Analysis: With the Blue Jays ahead 8-5 in the eighth inning, Mason Fluharty loaded the bases with nobody out, forcing manager John Schneider to turn to his closer much earlier than he wanted. Varland did allow an inherited runner to score on a fielder's choice, but he escaped the jam with no further damage before working around his own throwing error in the ninth. Varland hadn't pitched since Wednesday, but his 28 pitches in this one represented his biggest workload since May 22, so Toronto will likely try to steer away from him in Sunday's contest. On the season, the right-hander sports a 0.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 57:11 K:BB through 42 innings, and he has yet to blow a save chance. |
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Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Bailed out in no-decision
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 9:27 PM
Corbin didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Cubs, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The veteran lefty needed 101 pitches (57 strikes) to record just 11 outs and left the mound with the Blue Jays in a 3-0 hole, but a late rally took Corbin off the hook for his fourth loss of the season. He's failed to complete four innings in any of his last three starts, but with Max Scherzer (back) once again on the IL, Toronto seems content to keep Corbin at the back of the rotation, albeit in a piggyback arrangement -- Lazaro Estrada worked 2.1 innings behind him Saturday, but Simeon Woods Richardson and Spencer Miles are also options to handle long relief assignments. Corbin will take a 4.73 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 47:23 K:BB through 64.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Rangers. |
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Luis Urias Luis Urias Traded to Toronto
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 6:10 PM
The Diamondbacks traded Urias to the Blue Jays on Saturday in exchange for cash considerations, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Urias, an eight-year MLB veteran, has played well this season at the Triple-A level in the Pacific Coast League (.939 OPS) and is expected to join Toronto's major-league squad after exercising an upward mobility clause in his contract. Zwelling notes Urias' low chase rates throughout his time in the majors, and Urias will now receive another big-league opportunity in his new organization at 29 years old. |
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Yohendrick Pinango Yohendrick Pinango Out of Saturday's lineup
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 12:30 PM
Pinango isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Pinango will retreat to the bench Saturday following his 0-for-4 performance Friday that included a pair of strikeouts. While he sits, Myles Straw, Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes will form Toronto's outfield trio. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Riding pine Saturday
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 12:27 PM
Sanchez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: After going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's blowout loss, Sanchez will move to the bench Saturday while Myles Straw, Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes start across the outfield. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Taking seat Saturday
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 12:24 PM
Kirk isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Kirk will grab a seat on the bench Saturday after going 0-for-4 with a couple of strikeouts during Friday's loss. Brandon Valenzuela will fill in as Toronto's catcher and bat fourth. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Idle Saturday
Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 12:22 PM
Clement (hip) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis: Clement will miss a second consecutive start Saturday due to hip soreness. The 30-year-old had been playing through his injury for a while prior to sitting out Friday's game, though he may have to spend time on the injured list if he doesn't rejoin the lineup within the next couple of days. Davis Schneider will start at second base and bat seventh Saturday. |
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