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Kazuma Okamoto Kazuma Okamoto Goes yard again Saturday
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 6:51 PM
Okamoto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Guardians.
Analysis: His fourth-inning solo shot off Joey Cantillo got Toronto on the board, and gave Okamoto his second homer in as many days and his third in the last six games. The 29-year-old has five multi-hit performances in the last 11 contests, batting .282 (11-for-39) over that stretch with eight runs and eight RBI. |
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Louis Varland Louis Varland Shaky in second save
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 6:48 PM
Varland recorded his second save of the season in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and a walk in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Analysis: Getting his first save chance after Toronto manager John Schneider officially announced that Jeff Hoffman would no longer be viewed as the team's primary closer, Varland seemed to buckle under the pressure, throwing 19 of 30 pitches for strikes as he gave up his first earned run of 2026. The right-hander kept his focus, however, and fanned Bo Naylor and Brayan Rocchio to end the threat. Varland still sports a 0.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB through 14 innings, but a repeat of Saturday's performance might encourage Schneider to give other relievers a look in the ninth. |
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Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman Snags second win
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 6:41 PM
Gausman (2-1) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits over 6.2 innings in a 5-3 victory over the Guardians. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Analysis: The veteran righty tossed 63 of 91 pitches for strikes en route to his fourth quality start of the season in six trips to the mound. Gausman's three Ks were a season low, however, and after racking up a stunning 21:0 K:BB through his first two starts, he's managed just a 17:7 K:BB in 23 frames over his last four. He's been effective either way and will take a 2.57 ERA and 0.94 WHIP into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Minnesota. |
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Eric Lauer Eric Lauer Relegated to bullpen
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 11:50 AM
Manager John Schneider said Saturday that Lauer will pitch out of the bullpen going forward, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is set to make his return from the injured list Tuesday and start against Boston, which will squeeze Lauer out of the rotation and back into a long-relief role. The 30-year-old southpaw has struggled through his first five appearances of the season, turning in a 6.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP alongside a 19:12 K:BB across 22.2 innings. |
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Trey Yesavage Trey Yesavage Returning Tuesday
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 11:41 AM
Yesavage (shoulder) will start Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After making five rehab starts in the minor leagues, Yesavage is now set to make his season debut with the Jays. The 22-year-old righty didn't find much success during his rehab assignment, posting an 8.59 ERA and 1.77 WHIP across 14.2 innings, though he still managed to strike out 22 batters in that time. His most recent outing Tuesday lasted just 2.1 frames, so there's a strong chance he'll be working under a pitch count during his first few starts back with Toronto. Eric Lauer will move to the bullpen to make room for Yesavage in the rotation. |
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Yimi Garcia Yimi Garcia Moved to 60-day IL
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 10:34 AM
The Blue Jays transferred Garcia (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
Analysis: Garcia has been slowly working his way back from a cleanup procedure he underwent on his elbow last year, and his move to the 60-day IL will ensure that he remains out until late May. His place on the 40-man roster will be given to Yohendrick Pinango, who was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. |
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Nathan Lukes Nathan Lukes Placed on injured list
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 10:23 AM
The Blue Jays placed Lukes on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain.
Analysis: Lukes made an early exit from Friday's contest after tweaking his hamstring while hitting a double in the first inning, and he'll now spend time on the IL after imaging revealed a strain. Myles Straw will start in right field for the Blue Jays on Saturday and figures to do so until Lukes or Addison Barger (ankle) return from the IL. Yohendrick Pinango will come up from Triple-A to provide depth in the outfield. |
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Kazuma Okamoto Kazuma Okamoto Getting comfortable in MLB
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 9:43 AM
Okamoto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 8-6 loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: The third baseman took Gavin Williams deep in the second inning, Okamoto's fourth homer of the season. While the 29-year-old's poor start has been magnified by the exploits of fellow Japanese rookie Munetaka Murakami with the White Sox, Okamoto is beginning to find his footing in North America, recording three multi-hit performances in the last six games while batting .333 (7-for-21) with a double, two homers, five runs and five RBI. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Crushed by Cleveland
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 9:38 AM
Scherzer (1-3) took the loss Friday, surrendering seven runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over 2.1 innings as the Blue Jays fell 8-6 to the Guardians. He failed to strike out a batter.
Analysis: The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer came into the game looking for his 3,500th career strikeout -- a milestone only 10 pitchers in MLB history have reached -- but Scherzer not only failed to get it, he got rocked in an outing that mercifully ended after 82 pitches (51 strikes) once Angel Martinez had taken him deep for the second time. Scherzer's time in the Toronto rotation could be close to ending with both Trey Yesavage (shoulder) and Jose Berrios (elbow) getting closer to coming off the IL, but Eric Lauer and Patrick Corbin have little job security as well. Despite his 9.64 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB through 18.2 innings, Scherzer could be able to save his job with a good effort in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Red Sox. |
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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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