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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Spectacular in return from IL
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 8:46 PM
Cease did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Phillies, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 11 across six innings.
Analysis: Cease was activated from the 15-day injured list prior to Tuesday's start after fully recovering from a strained hamstring. He got off to a slow start by yielding a run in the first, but that was the only blemish in what was a sensational return for Cease, who tied a career high with 29 whiffs. It was the fourth time this season that the right-hander struck out at least 10 batters, and he was still throwing his fastball at 98 mph in the sixth inning. Cease's return is a welcome one for a Blue Jays team that is knocking on the door to the American League Wild Card race. He's lined up to face the Red Sox at Fenway Park next week. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho MRI returns clean
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 3:36 PM
Manager John Schneider said that Varsho, who is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, had an MRI on his left wrist come back negative, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The skipper also said that Varsho is still feeling "a little bit sore" as he misses a fourth straight game due to wrist inflammation, and the Blue Jays are waiting for some more feedback from a hand specialist before deciding the next steps. The club would like to avoid placing the 30-year-old on the injured list, but there may not be much of a choice if his absence extends much longer. |
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Lazaro Estrada Lazaro Estrada Completes third rehab appearance
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 3:33 PM
Estrada (shoulder) struck out three over three perfect innings of relief Sunday in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo.
Analysis: After working as a starter in his first two rehab appearances between Single-A Dunedin and Buffalo, Estrada shifted to the bullpen for his third minor-league outing. While piggybacking starter Grant Rogers, Estrada was sharp Sunday, needing just 29 pitches to record nine outs. Estrada is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list at any point, but the Blue Jays may continue to keep him on assignment for another appearance or two if they intend to get him stretched out further. |
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George Springer George Springer Exiting starting lineup
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 3:11 PM
Springer is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies.
Analysis: Springer went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Monday's series opener and is hitless over his last three contests, so he'll get a day to regroup. Vladimir Guerrero will get a day at designated hitter, and Charles McAdoo will play first base. |
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Adam Macko Adam Macko Optioned to Buffalo
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 3:10 PM
The Blue Jays optioned Macko to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, reports Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
Analysis: Macko will make his way back down to Triple-A after recently being called up on May 17. With the big-league club, the 25-year-old posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB in 12 innings. Macko will be demoted to Buffalo in order to make room for Dylan Cease on the active roster. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Held out again Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 3:09 PM
Varsho (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Phillies.
Analysis: It's the fourth straight start Varsho will miss as he continues to deal with left wrist inflammation. The Blue Jays have been optimistic that Varsho will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list, but he'll need to be game-ready soon or the club will have no choice but to make a transaction. Nathan Lukes is in center field for Toronto on Tuesday. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Activated from IL, starting Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 3:06 PM
Toronto activated Cease (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies, reports Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
Analysis: After landing on the IL with a strained hamstring on May 25, Cease will rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation after making one rehab start at Triple-A. Before landing on the IL, the 30-year-old recorded a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB in 62 innings. Toronto will send down Adam Macko to Triple-A Buffalo in order to make room for Cease on the active roster. |
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Rehabbing in Florida
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 2:36 PM
High-A Vancouver sent Casey (broken hamate) to the Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.
Analysis: He played in just one game at High-A before suffering the injury at the beginning of this season. Casey, who slashed .281/.439/.531 with three home runs and four steals in 23 games as a 22-year-old at Single-A last year, should return sometime in the coming weeks. |
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Recovering from elbow surgery
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 2:32 PM
Bucknam will miss all of 2026 and some of 2027 recovering from elbow surgery, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.
Analysis: The Jays' fourth-round selection in last year's draft, Bucknam will have to wait until at least next summer to make his pro debut. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Swats seventh homer
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 10:19 AM
Clement went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's loss to the Phillies.
Analysis: The 30-year-old infielder took Cristopher Sanchez deep in the fifth inning, providing the last bit of offense in a 5-2 loss. Clement has two homers in the last three games and four multi-hit performances in the first seven games of June, boosting his slash line on the season to .309/.328/.473 with seven home runs, two steals, 26 RBI and 31 runs in 66 contests. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Making fourth rehab start Thursday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 9:30 AM
Bieber (elbow) is scheduled to make the fourth start of his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Buffalo, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: After pitching for three different affiliates during his first three rehab outings, Bieber will stick around with Buffalo for a second consecutive appearance. Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Bieber could push up to the 70-75-pitch range Thursday, which would put him in consideration for a 2026 MLB debut as soon as next week. However, the right-hander may realistically need another rehab appearance or two beyond Thursday, given the uneven results he's had as he works his way back from inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow. While Bieber has posted a strong 8:0 K:BB in seven innings during his time in the minors, he's been knocked around for eight earned runs on 15 hits. |
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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.
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's likely to go unclaimed on waivers, and assuming that happens, he'll report back 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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