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Justin Topa Justin Topa Nets minors deal from Blue Jays
Wed, Jun 3, 2026, 12:17 PM
The Blue Jays signed Topa to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
Analysis: Topa was released by the Twins in late May after posting an 8.05 ERA and 2.00 WHIP across 19 innings. The 35-year-old reliever will look to get back on track at Triple-A Buffalo and earn another chance at the big-league level. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Could return early next week
Wed, Jun 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Kirk (thumb) could be activated from the injured list early next week, with Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicating the catcher would need about 20 at-bats on his rehab assignment before being ready to rejoin the lineup, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Kirk will begin his rehab stint at Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday, and depending on whether he's allowed to play on consecutive days right away, he could have time to get in 20 at-bats by the weekend. The organization might elect to be a little more cautious with the 27-year-old given that he last saw big-league action April 3, but with the Jays sliding in the standings and looking for a spark, they'll want their starting backstop back in the lineup as soon as possible. Tyler Heineman and Brandon Valenzuela will continue holding down the fort behind the plate until Kirk is cleared to return, and battling to keep a spot on the 26-man roster when he does. |
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Lazaro Estrada Lazaro Estrada Kicks off rehab assignment
Wed, Jun 3, 2026, 8:45 AM
Estrada (shoulder) yielded one run on three walks over 2.1 innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
Analysis: Estrada didn't give up a hit in the outing and fanned three batters, but he yielded a run on three walks and a sacrifice fly. The right-hander was making his first appearance in two months, as he's been dealing with a right shoulder impingement. Estrada will likely need at least a couple more rehab outings, and he could remain at Buffalo rather than join the big club when he's done with his rehab assignment. |
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Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman Yields four runs in Tuesday's loss
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 9:07 PM
Gausman (4-4) took the loss against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight across six innings.
Analysis: Gausman got off to a shaky start, yielding two runs in the first inning before allowing another batter to cross home plate in the third. He appeared to have settled in after that, retiring seven consecutive batters that included four-straight strikeouts from the fourth to the fifth frames. However, his bid for his eighth quality start of the season ended on a solo home run from Matt Olson, which ended up being the game-winning run for Atlanta. It was just the third time in 13 starts this season that Gausman gave up at least four earned runs, which has the veteran right-hander at a 3.36 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 74:14 K:BB across 75 innings. He'll look to get back into the win column in his next start, which is lined up for this weekend at home against the Orioles. |
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Kazuma Okamoto Kazuma Okamoto Goes deep for 13th time
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 8:42 PM
Okamoto went 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run during Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Atlanta.
Analysis: Okamoto put the Blue Jays on the board in the second inning with a two-run homer off Bryce Elder to tie the game at 2-2. Okamoto has gone deep three times over his last six games and is up to 13 home runs on the season, which leads the Blue Jays and ranks 12th in the American League, though he's also struck out 77 times, which is fourth-most in the AL. Over his last seven games, Okamoto has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with four extra-base hits and eight RBI. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Making next rehab start Friday
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 5:39 PM
Scherzer (forearm/ankle/thumb) expects to make his next rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The veteran right-hander made his first rehab outing with Buffalo on Sunday and threw 41 pitches across three scoreless innings. Scherzer hopes to build up to around 60 pitches in his next start, which could be his final rehab outing before being cleared to rejoin Toronto's rotation. |
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Yimi Garcia Yimi Garcia Restarting assignment Wednesday
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 4:35 PM
Garcia (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Garcia has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from a cleanup procedure he underwent on his right elbow in September. He was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in mid-May but suffered a minor setback during his first appearance and was slowed down. He's ready to test his elbow in a game setting again now that he's thrown a few more bullpen sessions without problems, though he will likely require several minor-league outings before the Blue Jays bring him back from the IL. |
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Tommy Nance Tommy Nance Throwing live BP
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 4:27 PM
Nance (forearm) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Nance was cleared to begin throwing off a mound Thursday, and he seems to be making considerable progress in his recovery given that he's now facing live hitters. He's scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, and a return from the injured list may come shortly thereafter. |
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Dylan Cease Dylan Cease Nearing rehab assignment
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 4:18 PM
Cease (hamstring) is expected to make a rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Cease threw another bullpen session Tuesday and participated in change-of-direction running drills. Assuming he doesn't run into any setbacks following his latest activity, he'll head out to Triple-A for what will likely be his only tune-up outing before being activated. He would then be lined up to make his return from the injured list next Tuesday and start against the Phillies. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Absent from Tuesday's lineup
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 4:15 PM
Sanchez (wrist) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.
Analysis: Sanchez is dealing with a wrist contusion that he suffered when he was hit by a ball thrown from the stands during Sunday's loss to the Orioles. The 28-year-old underwent X-rays that came back negative, but he'll still be held out of the starting nine for at least one game. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Beginning rehab assignment as DH
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 4:09 PM
Kirk (thumb) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Kirk will serve as the designated hitter when he begins his rehab assignment. The 27-year-old cleared the final steps in his recovery needed to begin the assignment by catching a live batting practice session and facing live pitching. He still needs plenty of playing time before he returns to Toronto. |
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Jake Bloss Jake Bloss Coughs up four runs in rehab start
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 10:03 AM
Bloss (elbow) struck out four and allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk across three innings during his rehab start Saturday with Single-A Dunedin.
Analysis: After turning in a 1.04 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 12:0 K:BB in 8.2 innings over his first three rehab starts between Dunedin and the Blue Jays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, Bloss endured a bumpy outing for the first time during his minor-league assignment. On a positive note, Bloss built up to 58 pitches in Saturday's outing and continued to look good in terms of raw stuff, turning in a 42.9 percent whiff rate while averaging 95.5 mph with his four-seamer. The 25-year-old right-hander -- who is working his way back from May 2025 Tommy John surgery -- is likely to require another rehab start or two before being activated from Triple-A Buffalo's 60-day injured list. If he continues to maintain the success he's enjoyed thus far during his rehab assignment once he joins the Buffalo rotation, Bloss could get a look in Toronto as a back-end starter or multi-inning option out of the bullpen at some point later on this summer. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Yields five runs in rehab start
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 8:30 AM
Bieber (elbow) struck out two batters and was charged with five earned runs on six hits and no walks across 2.1 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Single-A Dunedin.
Analysis: After tossing two scoreless innings in his first rehab start last Monday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Bieber jumped up a level for his second minor-league appearance. While Bieber ended up taking a step back from a results standpoint, he was at least able to push his pitch count up to 49 and while inducing nine swings and misses on his 35 strikes. The right-hander also averaged 92.1 mph with his fastball, a half-tick behind his average from the 2025 season. While he continues to work his way back from inflammation in his surgically repaired elbow, Bieber will likely need to build up to around 70-to-80 pitches in the minors before getting cleared to make his 2026 debut for Toronto. He looks to be trending toward a return from the 60-day injured list in the second half of June. |
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Max Scherzer Max Scherzer Sharp in first rehab start
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 8:21 AM
Scherzer (forearm/ankle) struck out four and allowed no hits and two walks over three scoreless innings in his first rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Buffalo.
Analysis: Making his first start at any level since April 24 after landing on the shelf due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation, Scherzer delivered an encouraging performance. He tossed 41 pitches (24 strikes) in the outing and induced seven whiffs on the afternoon while averaging 93.3 mph with his fastball. Though Scherzer is lined up for the open spot in the Toronto rotation for next weekend's series versus the Orioles, the Blue Jays may want to see him build up his pitch count over one more minor-league start before bringing him back from the 15-day injured list. |
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Yohendrick Pinango Yohendrick Pinango Homers off the bench
Mon, Jun 1, 2026, 7:46 AM
Pinango went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer in Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Orioles.
Analysis: Pinango, who started the day on the bench for a third straight game, entered in the sixth inning after Jesus Sanchez (wrist) left with an injury. The rookie would ultimately provide Toronto with one of their few bright spots, as he singled in the seventh before blasting a 421-foot, three-run homer off Tyler Wells in the eighth. Pinango is now slashing a solid .294/.333/.447 with three homers and 16 RBI through his first 90 big-league plate appearances. While Sanchez's injury doesn't seem serious, it could afford Pinango some additional playing time in the short term. |
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Spencer Miles Spencer Miles Falls to Baltimore
Sun, May 31, 2026, 3:38 PM
Miles (2-1) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out two.
Analysis: Five of the runs charged to Miles came in the third inning, capped by a Colton Cowser three-run homer with two outs. It was the second start of the season for Miles -- the right-hander had found success as a bulk reliever prior to Sunday, allowing just one run in his previous 15.1 innings. Miles' ERA now sits at 3.47 with a 1.16 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB across 36.1 innings this season. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Tending to bruised wrist
Sun, May 31, 2026, 2:10 PM
The Blue Jays announced that Sanchez was removed in the bottom of the sixth inning of Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Orioles due to a right wrist contusion.
Analysis: Sanchez went 1-for-2 with a base hit before leaving the game midway through the bottom of the sixth, when he appeared to be hit by a ball thrown into the field of play by a fan. Fortunately for Sanchez, precautionary X-rays came back negative, and he'll get an extra day to rest up and recover before the Blue Jays return to action Tuesday in Atlanta. Yohendrick Pinango replaced Sanchez in right field during Sunday's contest and would likely be the top choice to start Tuesday if Sanchez isn't ready to play. |
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Jesus Sanchez Jesus Sanchez Struck by stray ball
Sun, May 31, 2026, 1:11 PM
Sanchez was removed from Sunday's game against the Orioles after being struck in the wrist by a ball that appeared to be thrown by a fan in the stands, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Sanchez appeared to be talking with someone in the right field seats during a sixth-inning mound visit and was subsequently struck by a ball in the area of his wrist, forcing him to leave the game. The specifics of the injury aren't clear, but more information should be available as he continues to be evaluated. |
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Yohendrick Pinango Yohendrick Pinango Losing out on playing time
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:19 AM
Pinango is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: On the bench for a third straight matchup with a right-handed pitcher, the rookie appears to have faded into a reserve role with Nathan Lukes back from the injured list. Though Pinango has held his own against big-league pitching with a .277/.318/.398 slash line in 88 plate appearances, he could soon be headed back to Triple-A Buffalo while Lukes, Jesus Sanchez and Daulton Varsho serve as Toronto's primary starters in the outfield. Pinango's path to playing time will only become narrower once Addison Barger (elbow) returns from the IL in June. |
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George Springer George Springer Idle for day game
Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:15 AM
Springer is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Analysis: Springer will be given a breather for the day game after he had served as Toronto's designated hitter each of the previous three nights. Vladimir Guerrero will replace Springer at DH. |
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