Bryan Jaeger

The Toronto Blue Jays have been in a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation this season. Half of the bullpen has been outstanding; that's the good side, a.k.a. Dr. Jekyll. The other half has been atrocious; that's the dark side, a.k.a. Mr. Hyde. Below are the relievers channeling their evil Mr. Hyde alter ego: Player Innings ERA Roster Status Brendon Little 3 2/3 24.55 Optioned to Triple A Josh Fleming 3 12.00 DFA'd and re-signed. In Triple A Jeff Hoffman 10 2/3 7.59 (through April 21) Moved to a setup role Eric Lauer 36 6.69 DFA'd and traded Yariel Rodríguez 4 1/3 10.38 Added to the 26-man roster on May 11 Chase Lee 3 1/3 8.10 Added to the 26-man roster on May 19 Mason Fluharty 18 2/3 4.82 Made the Opening Day roster Since being removed from the official closer role, Hoffman has reduced his ERA to 5.09. This success is due to pitching nine shutout outings in his last 13. Even in the four games in which he surrendered a run, it was only one. He also earned two saves last week, his first in over a month. He struck out five of the six batters he faced in those two outings. The first save came the day after Louis Varland pitched two days in a row, and the second save came the day after Varland threw two innings. So Hoffman hasn't fully gotten back in the good graces of manager John Schneider, but it's a start. Thankfully, it's not all doom and gloom. There is a good side to the bullpen: the Dr. Jekylls. Varland has been stellar all season, and since taking over the ninth inning, he has converted all five of his save opportunities. Here are the other relievers who are sporting their Dr. Jekyll alter egos: Player Innings ERA Roster Status Louis Varland 27 2/3 0.65 Took over the closer role Tyler Rogers 23 1/3 1.54 Made the Opening Day roster Braydon Fisher 29 2/3 2.73 Made the Opening Day roster Tommy Nance 21 3.86 Made the Opening Day roster. On IL since May 16 Joe Mantiply 17 2/3 2.04 Added to the 26-man roster on April 5. On IL since May 17 Spencer Miles 29 2.17 Made the Opening Day roster Austin Voth 2 2/3 3.38 DFA'd and re-signed. In Triple A Adam Macko 3 1/3 0.00 Added to the 26-man roster on May 17 Tommy Nance (May 17) and Joe Mantiply (May 19) have joined the long list of pitchers on the injury list. However, the bullpen's success has been much-needed, as the relievers have had to fill a rotation spot due to the plethora of starting pitcher injuries. José Berríos, Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber, Bowden Francis, and Cody Ponce have been on the injured list for most of the year. These were all players who could have played key roles this season. Ponce is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury in his first outing this season, and Scherzer made five starts before going on the injured list with forearm tendinitis and ankle inflammation. Berríos, Bieber, and Francis have all been out since the start of the season. Bieber started a rehab assignment on May 24. The Blue Jays will ease the righty back into form, and his return may come in late June. Berríos and Francis will both miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The good news is that Toronto's first two bullpen games (with Miles filling a bulk relief role) went well. The Jays held the Detroit Tigers to seven hits and one run on May 16, striking out 14. Then they limited the New York Yankees to three hits in a shutout on May 21, striking out another 14. Yet, it seems that when things are going well, something bad comes along. The latest bad news is that Dylan Cease is now on the injured list after suffering a hamstring injury on May 24. Schneider has already been playing chess with all his moving pieces, and now the Blue Jays are once again trying to figure out how to fill an empty rotation spot. The team could let Miles properly join the rotation, given his recent success. He threw eight scoreless innings between the bullpen games on May 16 and 21. Then they could turn the other available rotation spot into a bullpen game. The Blue Jays would need to find someone who can go three or four innings since Miles would be unavailable, and that's likely Rodríguez. This injury crisis has been one of the worst situations that I can remember. Let's see how the Blue Jays adjust. Stats updated prior to games on May 25. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays have had unfortunate, unexpected bad luck with their starting rotation's health. José Berríos was expected to return to Toronto soon, but he has suffered a setback with his elbow injury. He recently met with Dr. Keith Meister, a renowned elbow surgeon, and they are continuing to discuss what approach they will take. Cody Ponce suffered an ACL injury in his first start back in MLB after four seasons overseas. Shane Bieber has been out all season recovering from elbow inflammation. He has thrown a few bullpens and is expected to face live hitters soon. This progress will allow his expected return in late May or early June, provided he continues taking steps in the right direction. Max Scherzer has made only five starts, and they were a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs. He's now on the injured list due to forearm tendinitis and swelling in his ankle. He received cortisone shots for both to see if he can return sooner rather than later. A timetable will be established once the team sees how his body reacts to the shots. Bowden Francis underwent UCL surgery in the offseason and won't return until next season. Eric Lauer was filling in the rotation void, but his performance was hideous. He has since been designated for assignment. There are no clear answers to address the opening in the rotation at the moment. The Blue Jays already hit the free agent market and added Patrick Corbin because they had no prospects that were ready to be called up. Ricky Tiedemann looked like an option for promotion during spring training, but he was shut down with elbow soreness. He's started throwing on a mound, but he's being eased in after missing all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Tiedemann is unlikely to return until later in the second half of the season. However, there may be a solution to the rotation void currently on the Blue Jays roster. That option is Spencer Miles, who has been working as a long reliever this season. He's performed well in his rookie campaign, posting a 3.00 ERA over 21 innings with an 18:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 3.36 FIP (entering play on May 15). Miles got the start on May 10 against the Los Angeles Angels, though he was really more of a "long opener" in that game. He threw 38 pitches over three scoreless innings, while allowing two hits and striking out two. The Blue Jays' coaching staff will have to tightly monitor his workload, as the Rule 5 draft pick only pitched 7.1 innings in each of his two seasons in the minors (2022 and '24). Miles missed the 2023 season due to back surgery and the 2025 season due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. With his success this season, Miles is the obvious choice to become the fifth starter, even if it's only for a few innings each outing before he turns things over to the bullpen. However, with his limited experience and production, the righty will need to be closely monitored. There have already been too many injuries to the starting rotation that the coaches and front office have had to try to solve. The season hasn't started the way the Blue Jays expected after a World Series trip last fall, but the beauty of Major League Baseball is that there are 162 games on the schedule, so the Jays have plenty of time to get their issues figured out. View full article

Trey YesavageJoJo ParkerArjun NimmalaJohnny KingGage StaniferYohendrick PinangoRicky TiedemannJuan SanchezJake BlossRJ SchreckJosh KasevichJake CookVictor AriasSilvano HechavarriaBlaine BullardCharles McAdooSean KeysEdward DuranTim PiasentinAdam Macko

The Toronto Blue Jays are around the middle of the pack in terms of farm system rankings. As a result, they don't have many players expected to make their MLB debuts soon. Fans know the names of the team's top prospects, including Trey Yesavage, who is thriving early in his MLB career, JoJo Parker, and Arjun Nimmala, but a few lesser-known prospects are starting to make a name for themselves. One of those players is Sean Keys, the No. 17 prospect in the Blue Jays organization. Keys is a left-handed power hitter who plays third base, but his 6-foot-2, 232-pound frame may be better suited for first base, due to his limited range. The Blue Jays selected him in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. In his first minor league season, he debuted at Single-A Dunedin, where the left-handed hitter displayed excellent plate vision and contact skills. He slashed .293/.378/.451 over 98 plate appearances with 11 runs, one home run, and 20 knocked in. His next year didn't go as smoothly, but he still showed promising skills. Keys was promoted to High-A Vancouver, where we got a glimpse of the power he possessed; he hit 19 home runs over 529 plate appearances. However, his slash dropped across the board to .217/.365/.408. Still, the slugger posted a 119 wRC+. Vancouver isn't known as a hitters' park, so it was encouraging to see him impact the ball solidly, even though they didn't always drop for hits. This season, Keys received an invitation to major league spring training, but he was never considered a serious contender to make the Opening Day roster. The 22-year-old was sent to Double-A New Hampshire, where he has been crushing the ball. It is a small sample, with him playing in only 27 games (entering play on May 8), but Keys has slashed .309/.427/.629 over 117 plate appearances. He has added 29 runs, 23 RBIs, and nine home runs to his totals, as well as a 167 wRC+. The fast start to his season has definitely helped this underrated player become a household name among Blue Jays fans. It's likely a long shot that Keys can make his MLB debut this season. The Blue Jays would want to see how he performs in Triple A before calling him up, as he is only 22. However, if he gets promoted to Buffalo sometime this summer, it increases the chances that the prospect could be a September call-up. Blue Jays fans, keep an eye on Keys. If he keeps tearing the hide off the ball, he may be one of the next promising prospects to make an MLB appearance. With the Blue Jays' power numbers down this season (they're tied for 23rd in home runs), the team could use more sluggers on its roster. We may not see Keys in the big leagues this season, but it will be sooner rather than later if he keeps performing the way he has. View full article

Kazuma Okamoto displayed massive power in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, hitting 30 or more home runs in each season from 2018 through 2024. He was on pace to continue that trend last season, but an elbow injury forced him to miss half the season. He came over to MLB in the offseason, but struggled through March and April, slashing .218/.301/.373 with five home runs over 123 plate appearances. However, through the first six games in May, he has already doubled his home run total, giving him 10 on the season. Okamoto also has a significantly higher slash line through 28 May plate appearances, hitting .375/.464/1.042. To go along with his 10 home runs, the Blue Jays' third baseman has 19 runs and 23 runs knocked in. Okamoto's power is evident in his ranking towards the top of the league in many key metrics. Although the sample is small, the righty is in the 85th percentile or higher in expected slugging percentage (.515), average exit velocity (93.1 mph), barrel percentage (15.6 percent), and hard-hit percentage (52.2 percent). These rankings mean Okamoto is making solid contact, and his 18.7-degree average launch angle is helping him hit the ball into the outfield stands. Another thing that is helping Okamoto hit home runs is that he's pulling the ball more than 50 percent of the time. You pair that with his pull-air rate (25.6 percent), which is nearly 10 percentage points higher than the league average, and it's easy to see why Okamoto has flipped a switch offensively. The offensive surge has the third baseman shooting up the rankings in many major offensive statistics among his position mates. Okamoto is positioning himself exceptionally well to earn an All-Star Game nod in his rookie season if his success continues. Here is how he ranks among his fellow AL third basemen: .246 batting average - 6th 19 runs - T-5th 10 home runs - 1st 66 total bases - 1st 23 RBI - 1st .493 slugging percentage - 2nd It took Okamoto a while to adjust to the North American style of baseball, but since the season entered May, he has been one of the league's best hitters. After Bo Bichette left in free agency, Okamoto was looked at as the free agent signing who would fill Bichette's shoes in the lineup. It's looking like the Blue Jays made the right decision, although it's far too early to make an official judgment. It is safe to say that with the power drought from players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team is glad to see their third baseman find his home run stroke. View full article

All statistics from before first pitch on May 5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a productive offensive weapon for the Toronto Blue Jays, but his power numbers are near the worst of his eight-year career. This season, Guerrero is slashing .333/.421/.437 with 21 runs and 15 knocked in, but only two home runs. That number of home runs is fewer than Brandon Valenzuela's three, and he's a defense-first catcher who started the season in Triple-A. Vladdy is the face of the Blue Jays franchise and the team's $500 million man, even though he has never matched the 48 home runs he hit in 2021, ranging from 23 to 32 each season following. One of the main reasons for the power decrease since his breakout is that the righty batter has exceeded that season's 9.4-degree average launch angle only once. That one season was 2023, when Guerrero hit 26 home runs with a 10.5-degree average angle. Since then, he hasn't exceeded 8.2 degrees, which is his current mark. His fly ball rate is also the lowest it's been in several years. What's even more concerning is that Vladdy is posting some of his worst quality-of-contact numbers since his 2019 rookie season. His hard-hit rate (43.8 percent), barrel percentage (10.7 percent), and average exit velocity (91.2 mph) are his lowest since 2019 or 2020, his first two MLB seasons. These decreases, combined with his failure to elevate the ball, have led to Guerrero's struggles to hit home runs. While taking a deep dive into his statistics, it's important to remember that although his declines in some areas are concerning, the season is only a few weeks old, so the sample is small. Where the Blue Jays first baseman is thriving is in the contact department, with a career-best 12.1% strikeout rate. His expected batting average of .316 ranks in the 97th percentile and would tie his career high set in 2024. This metric is backed by his high line-drive rate and noticeable up-the-middle approach. The Blue Jays' highest-paid player has been more content driving the ball to center than pulling it, with a straightaway rate nearly 10 percentage points higher than his pull rate. With this strategy, it's harder to hit a home run, but it shows that his timing is near perfect. It seems his mentality at the plate is to be a top-of-the-order hitter trying to get on base, instead of a three or four-hole hitter who will use power to drive in runs. Though the mindset and mentality might be concerning, none of it means that Vladdy isn't an exceptional player. What's frustrating is that he is only 27 and has the natural talent to produce more power. The fix could be as simple as a slight mechanical change in his swing to pull the ball more often and generate more fly balls. If not, the Blue Jays will need to move forward with a plan to add power around Guerrero, as the current roster ranks 22nd in MLB in home runs. Kazuma Okamoto is carrying the load, with nine of the team's 33 home runs, but hopefully, answers are on their way. Addison Barger has begun a rehab stint in Single A, where he homered in his first game. The slugger struggled mightily to start the season, posting a .279 OPS and -16 wRC+ before he hit the injured list. The Blue Jays desperately need Barger to overcome his struggles and bring power to a roster that has no one besides Okamoto with more than four home runs this season. For Blue Jays fans, it may be time to change your expectations for the $500 million man. He might no longer be the slugger you once knew. Now, he looks like the "get on-base guy" that he used to drive in. He's still to be appreciated and cheered for, as he's the team's offensive leader and will be for many years to come. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff has been a tale of two extremes. There have been some outstanding performances by the guys in this article, but then there have been absolute snoozefests like Brendon Little and his 24.55 ERA. All the injuries the staff has endured haven't helped matters. Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Shane Bieber, Yimi García, and Bowden Francis all started the season on the injury list. However, Yesavage made his first start of the season on April 28, and Berríos is making rehab starts with a return to the Blue Jays in sight. Unfortunately, more pitchers have joined the injury list. Cody Ponce suffered an ACL injury in his first start this season, and, more recently, Max Scherzer was added to the injury list with forearm tendinitis and ankle inflammation. Eric Lauer has been filling in as a member of the starting rotation, but he's struggled with a 6.00 ERA, a 1.52 WHIP, and a 20:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 27 innings. The Blue Jays were so desperate for arms that they signed Patrick Corbin in free agency, a name no Blue Jays fan thought they'd see on the team. His first start was rough, allowing four earned runs to the Minnesota Twins, but he has settled down since then, allowing only four earned runs over three starts. However, that's enough doom and gloom. These were the bright spots on the Blue Jays' pitching staff in March and April. Honourable Mentions Braydon Fisher - 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, 16 K, 6 BB, 4 holds, 3.25 FIP In his second MLB season, Braydon Fisher has been thrust into high-leverage situations at times, converting four holds in 13 relief appearances. His latest high-leverage situation was on April 29 against the Boston Red Sox. He replaced Lauer in the fifth inning of a 5-1 game with the bases loaded and one out. The first batter up was Willson Contreras, who already had homered in the game, but Fisher got Contreras to line into a double play. His four holds are one short of last year's total, when he made 51 relief appearances. The one issue Fisher has had is allowing free passes. He has a 2.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which is fewer than his 3.26 ratio last season. However, Fisher has proven to be able to get out of innings with runners on base. Kevin Gausman - 40.2 IP, 3.10 ERA, 40 K, 8 BB, 3.35 FIP Kevin Gausman has been a prototypical ace, delivering dominant performances to start the season. He has thrown six innings or more in four of his seven starts and was able to keep his pitch count under 92 in each of those four games. In three of those, he didn't walk a batter, which supported his low pitch count. The ace accumulated 21 strikeouts through his first two starts, but that was against the Athletics and Chicago White Sox. Over his next five starts, he totaled 19 strikeouts, though he faced some tougher competition: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Arizona Diamondbacks. March/April Pitchers of the Month #3 - Tyler Rogers - 15.1 IP, 0.59 ERA, 8 K, 4 BB, 7 holds, 2.87 FIP The submariner, Tyler Rogers, has been electric since signing with Toronto in free agency, allowing only one earned run this season. His deceptive arm motion usually leads to a high strikeout-to-walk rate, but this season, his 6.8 percent K-BB% is a career low over his eight MLB seasons. Though the sample is small, this is just the second time that rate has been below 12.5 percent. Rogers was a candidate to close games once Jeff Hoffman was removed from the role, but Louis Varland has seemingly been cemented into the closer role. This setup allows Rogers to continue thriving, entering the game in the eighth inning and helping to hold the lead. #2 - Dylan Cease - 31.1 IP, 2.87 ERA, 49 K, 17 BB, 1.82 FIP Dylan Cease has been worth every penny the Blue Jays gave him in the offseason. He ranks fourth in strikeouts among all MLB starting pitchers, but he's the only one to have thrown 12 strikeouts in a game twice. In fact, there's only been one other pitcher to strike out 12 batters in a game, the Brewers' Kyle Harrison. Allowing walks has always been a struggle for Cease, and this season is no different. He's given up two or more free passes in all six of his starts. With the high walk and strikeout totals, the righty builds up a high pitch count, which means he has only pitched six innings once. However, he's thrown more than 165 innings in five straight seasons, so he should continue to provide a Blue Jays team that's bleeding from injuries with a stable top-of-the-rotation arm. #1 - Louis Varland - 16 IP, 0.56 ERA, 26 K, 4 BB, 3 holds, 4 saves, 0.62 FIP The MVP of the bullpen has been Louis Varland. He has been thrust into games in high-leverage, mid-inning situations and has been outstanding. It's not his first time being used in high-leverage situations, as he had 17 holds for the Minnesota Twins over 49 innings before being traded to the Blue Jays at last season's trade deadline. Though it's come in a small sample, his 43.3 strikeout percentage is a career high over his five MLB seasons. His success has made him the man to take over the ninth inning after Hoffman's struggles got him removed from the closer role. Varland has converted all four of his save chances while allowing only one run and striking out seven in those outings. He has a firm grasp on the role and doesn't look like he'll relinquish his duties anytime soon. View full article

Stats in this article were updated prior to games on April 28. Daulton Varsho has been known over his career for his exceptional defense in the outfield. In 2024, he won a Gold Glove Award for center field because he led all MLB players with a +16 Fielding Run Value and +28 Defensive Runs Saved. He also finished with +15 Outs Above Average, which put him in the 99th percentile among MLB fielders. Varsho's outstanding 2024 season was cut short by a shoulder strain, which forced him to miss the last 14 games. Despite the shoulder injury, he ranked in the 88th percentile in arm value and 40th percentile in arm strength. The Blue Jays center fielder missed the first 28 games of the 2025 season, recovering from offseason rotator cuff surgery. The surgery and other injuries would force Varsho to miss a total of 91 games that season. It was the first time since 2022 that he did not play in more than 135 games, and it was obvious he wasn't himself when he was on the field. The range was still there last season. His +9 Outs Above Average ranked him in the 95th percentile. However, his arm value and strength were markedly lower following his rotator cuff surgery, ranking at the 21st and 5th percentiles, respectively. His average throw velocity dropped from 83.7 mph in 2024 to 73.7 mph in 2025. With the decline, runners weren't afraid to take an extra base when baseballs were hit in Varsho's direction. His arm velocity has improved this season (79.7 mph), but it still isn't back to 100 percent. Varsho's right arm health isn't the only issue affecting his defense. A knee injury on April 17 this season has noticeably decreased his speed. He exited the game early on April 17 and only missed the next two games, but it's not clear whether something else is contributing to the speed decline, since it began before the injury was announced. His sprint speed has slipped from 28.4 mph in 2025 to 26.7 mph, putting him in the 37th percentile. The lack of speed has worsened his range, leaving him with just +1 Outs Above Average (71st percentile) a month into the season. His reaction times have also declined, with his outfielder jump on contact at a career low. This metric measures how many feet a defender travels in the correct direction within the first three seconds after a ball is hit. Varho's feet covered versus the average this season is -2.1. It's the first time in his career that this stat has been negative. In each of the last two seasons, Varsho had a +3.2 feet vs. average rating, which further proves there's a lingering issue. He's only averaging a total of 31.7 feet covered, nearly six feet fewer than in each of the last two seasons. Despite physical setbacks from injuries, the Blue Jays center fielder is still posting respectable defensive numbers and remains a key part of the team's defense. Varsho is only 29, so he still has time to heal up and return to his former elite defensive skills. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays started their season with a three-game sweep over the Athletics. Since then, Toronto has gone 7-13, including losing five of six games to the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox, the two worst teams last season. It's not the start the team or fans had hoped for after their World Series trip last fall. There have been issues across the board that explain why the team has struggled. However, the offense has been a massive problem. Among all MLB teams, the Blue Jays rank 23rd in runs, 23rd in home runs, and 18th in OPS (following their game on April 22). Another glaring issue has been Toronto's unwillingness to be aggressive on the bases. The Blue Jays are tied for 28th in stolen bases with only eight on the season. This part of the game has not been a priority for the past four seasons, since John Schneider took over as manager, and their run total has been noticeable. In each of those four seasons, the Blue Jays ranked in the bottom half of the league in stolen bases but still finished in the top half in runs, except in 2024, their only losing season of the four. These teams relied on their above-average on-base and slugging skills to score runs and win games. Year Record Runs Scored (MLB Rank) Stolen Bases (MLB Rank) OPS (MLB Rank) 2022 92-70 775 (4th) 67 (21st) .760 (2nd) 2023 89-73 746 (14th) 99 (21st) .746 (11th) 2024 74-88 671 (23rd) 72 (27th) .702 (17th) 2025 94-68 798 (4th) 77 (28th) .760 (3rd) On the season, only five Blue Jays have a stolen base: Andrés Giménez has four, and Daulton Varsho, Ernie Clement, George Springer, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each have one. With the team struggling to score runs this season, a philosophy change may be needed until the power numbers improve — their .695 OPS right now isn't cutting it. None of the players on the current roster, perhaps excepting Giménez, seems to have the desire to steal. Since 2022, Giménez has the highest stolen base percentage per opportunity, but it is only 2.2 percent. However, according to Baseball Savant, the Blue Jays have nine players whose sprint speeds were at or above the MLB average of 27 feet per second as recently as last season. Those players are Giménez, Varsho, Springer, Clement, Myles Straw, Addison Barger, Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, and Jesús Sánchez. Under the disengagement rule (affecting pick-off attempts or steps off the rubber) implemented in 2023, pitchers are allowed to attempt two disengagements per batter. If they try to pick a runner off a third time, they have to get the runner out, or else it's called a balk and the runner advances a base. This rule, along with larger bases and the pitch clock, has led to an increase in stolen base attempts across the league. So, the Blue Jays have the means to change their philosophy around stealing bases and getting runners in scoring position. Their power has been slow to get started this season, so they need to make a change to start scoring more runs. When a team has a steal threat on first base, it puts pressure on the defense. They will shift players accordingly, which opens holes, but the Blue Jays don't encounter this. Teams know the Blue Jays likely won't steal, so they can play their normal double play or shift positioning depending on the batter. With a below-average OPS, Toronto is currently on pace to finish worse than in 2024, when they finished last in the AL East. It may be the time to make some changes and increase their aggressiveness on the basepaths. View full article

Dylan Cease has been off to an excellent start this season, posting a 1.74 ERA over 20 2/3 innings. His 36.0% strikeout rate (32 strikeouts) leads AL pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched. Although, it's not all pretty, as his 5.23 walks per nine innings would be his second-worst rate over his eight-year MLB tenure. Free passes have been an issue for Cease throughout his career, 3.84 per nine innings. Though he struggles with walks, the righty is posting a career-best strikeout percentage in his first season in Toronto. Another aspect Cease brings to the table is his durability. He has made at least 32 starts in each of the last six seasons. Healthy starting pitchers are something the Blue Jays greatly need right now. They currently have Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Shane Bieber, and Cody Ponce on the injury list to start the season, and Ponce is likely out for the season due to an ACL injury. However, Yesavage and Berríos have made rehab starts and are close to returning. Cease has been considered a strikeout pitcher throughout his career, but his increased success this season is not a fluke. In the last four seasons, he was primarily a two-pitch pitcher. Although he has six pitches in his arsenal, he threw his four-seam fastball and slider over 80 percent of the time in each of those four seasons. Hitters could sit on a certain pitch, and when it came, they could hammer it. This season, Cease has varied his pitches more often. He only throws his four-seam fastball and slider a combined 65.5 percent of the time, and his other four pitches are thrown between eight and 10 percent of the time. The inclusion of his offspeed pitches at a higher rate keeps batters off balance. Especially with his slider, changeup, knuckle curve, and sweeper sitting in the mid-to-high 80 mph range, while his fastball and sinker hit 96 to 98 mph. The 30-year-old throwing pitches at similar speeds is significant because they all have different movement profiles, either to the arm side or glove side. This craftiness prevents batters from sitting on a specific pitch, as in years past. Below is a breakdown from Baseball Savant. The pitch characteristic stats are all from 2026. Total Movement (in inches) 2025 2026 Pitch Type Avg. MPH Avg. Vertical Drop Avg. Horizontal Break Usage % Whiff % Usage % Whiff % Four-Seam FB 98 9.7 3.6 arm side 42.1 25.7 36.9 33.8 Slider 89.6 30.5 0.5 glove side 40.8 42.9 28.6 55.7 Changeup 85.2 22 9.5 arm side 1.2 46.7 9.4 77.8 Knuckle Curve 83 54.4 2.4 glove side 8.3 37.1 8.8 27.3 Sweeper 84.6 46.8 10.8 glove side 3.5 26.7 8.3 33.3 Sinker 96.8 15 12.0 arm side 3.9 12.9 8.1 7.1 The deception Cease has added by throwing more types of pitches more often shows in the increase in whiff percentage the righty has accrued this season versus last. Every pitch except his sinker and his knuckle curve has a higher whiff percentage, while his overall whiff rate has climbed from 33.4% to 41.0%. These high numbers show that his various offspeed pitches, thrown at similar speeds to one another, are working to keep hitters guessing. Although the sample is small, with only four games under his belt, you can't discredit the fact that Cease's adjustments have made a massive difference this season. The Blue Jays should have an exceptional top trio of starting pitchers with Kevin Gausman, Cease, and, eventually, Yesavage, who all possess similar swing-and-miss pitches. Fans can expect to see a ton of strikeouts in each of these fireballers' games. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays are off to a slow start this season in every aspect of the game. These struggles have resulted in a 6-9 record after the Minnesota Twins series, despite starting the season 3-0. A disappointing part of their start was going 1-5 over two series against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox, MLB's two worst teams last season. The Blue Jays slow start can be attributed to many contributing factors. Firstly, the injury bug has run rampant through the clubhouse, holding many key players out. Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, José Berríos, Yimi García, and Anthony Santander started the season on the injury list. Shortly into the season, Cody Ponce, Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, and George Springer joined them. Secondly, the offense has struggled, posting a -25 run differential (the second-worst in MLB). They rank 24th in runs per game (3.80) and 28th in runners left in scoring position. Lastly, the pitching staff ranks 27th in ERA (4.81) and 16th in WHIP (1.31), but first in strikeouts (168). The ERA and WHIP are heavily skewed by Brendon Little (24.55 ERA and 3.55 WHIP), who was a surprising weak link to start the season, and Josh Fleming (12.00 ERA and 2.67 WHIP). Also, catcher Tyler Heineman has made two appearances on the mound in blowouts, resulting in a 15.00 ERA and 2.67 WHIP. Because of the injuries and struggles, the Blue Jays have made several roster moves to fill holes and hopefully find some consistency. Patrick Corbin signed a one-year, $1 million contract on April 3, and a day later, Tyler Fitzgerald was acquired from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations. They were both optioned to the minors after being acquired, but were soon recalled, joining the Blue Jays a few days later. Little was optioned to Triple A to get a breather and hopefully figure out a fix, while Fleming was designated for assignment (and later re-signed on a new minor league contract). To fill an opening, Joe Mantiply was recalled. Over 4 2/3 innings, he has a 5.79 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and an 8:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Kirk will miss approximately six weeks recovering from surgery for a fractured and dislocated left thumb. His replacement is rookie Brandon Valenzuela, who was going to be the backup catcher but has been asked to start more than expected, as Heineman is dealing with back spasms. Heineman’s injury isn’t expected to require a stint on the injury list, but if he were to miss extended time, the Blue Jays don’t have many internal answers to fill his shoes. CJ Stubbs played in just one game last season with the Washington Nationals, but he’s the only option at catcher with big league experience, unless a free agent is signed. Nathan Lukes has been starting in right field for Barger, who isn’t expected to spend much longer than the 10-day minimum on the injury list. Fitzgerald or Myles Straw can be called on to replace Lukes if a left-handed pitcher is on the mound. After Springer’s injury, Eloy Jiménez’s contract was selected from the minors. The former Chicago White Sox was a solid performer during spring training and in Triple A, earning Player of the Week honors after starting the season slashing .375/.429/.542 with five RBIs. He will fill the DH role until Springer’s return, which could also be just after the minimum 10-day injury list stint. In another move to add some depth, the Blue Jays acquired Lenyn Sosa from the White Sox for 18-year-old prospect Jordan Rich and a player to be named later or cash. Sosa will bring MLB experience to the bench. However, he doesn’t come with the greatest resumé. He’s a subpar defender, and in his five MLB seasons, he has only had one decent year, his breakout campaign in 2025. It was the first time he played in more than 100 games, and he hit 22 home runs, scored 57 times, and drove in 75, while slashing .264/.293/.434. This season, Sosa has struggled, hitting only .212 over 33 plate appearances with a 40 wRC+. The White Sox are moving on to their younger prospects, and even though Sosa is only 26, Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth are performing well in the middle infield, and there are rumors that Sam Antonacci will be called up soon, making Sosa expendable. The Blue Jays are trying to find any solution to bolster their offense after a lack of production to begin the 2026 campaign. They may have more decisions to make when Barger and Springer return if their replacements are performing well. If Jiménez is not performing when Springer returns, then it’s not a huge loss to put him on waivers. If he is performing, then Fitzgerald, Lukes, or Davis Schneider can be optioned to Triple-A. Lukes has been abysmal in his 29 plate appearances this season, posting a -37 wRC+, but he is a left-handed bat that can come off the bench. He joins either Valenzuela or Heineman (whichever isn't starting behind the plate) as the only lefty bat options on the bench. Both catchers are switch-hitters. Fitzgerald and Schneider both offer defensive flexibility, being able to play multiple infield and outfield positions. Neither is a substantial offensive threat, but both have shown some power in their brief MLB careers. They’re both right-handed bats, so one would make sense to option after Sosa officially joins the active roster. Sosa is out of minor league options. Schneider has been red-hot in 2026, so Fitzgerald is certainly more likely to be sent down today. What happens when Springer and/or Barger return is a different question. After making room for Sosa, the Blue Jays will hope they are done moving their chess pieces around, at least for now. The biggest power threats remaining on their 26-man roster – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, and Jesús Sánchez – need to get going offensively, with none having more than two home runs. Also, Kazuma Okamoto has been slow to adjust to the American style of baseball. He has two home runs, but only four runs and three RBIs in 60 plate appearances. Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease need help in the starting rotation; both have ERAs under and 26 strikeouts in three starts. However, Corbin, Eric Lauer, and Max Scherzer each have an ERA higher than 7.50. The bullpen has been a bright spot, throwing 15 1/3 scoreless innings in the Twins series, a franchise record, but the Blue Jays still lost the series and were outscored 25 to 10. Hopefully, the injury bug is extinguished, and the team finds a way to turn its slow start around. The good thing about baseball is that it has a long season, so there is plenty of time for a team to turn its season around. A World Series is still the ultimate goal, and the Blue Jays are making the moves to get there. View full article

Brendon Little was dominant during the first half of last season. Over 44 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.03 ERA, held batters to a .177 batting average, and had a 65:28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The second half of the season was a different story. The lefty had a 4.88 ERA, a .230 average off him, and a 26:17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over only 24 innings. The struggles could have been due to his workload. At times, the only southpaw in the bullpen, he threw in 79 total games. It was the first time he had thrown in over 50 games in his short MLB career. Little's 2026 season has started even worse. Over his first 3 2/3 innings, he was abysmal, posting a 24.55 ERA (10 earned runs) and allowing a .500 batting average (10 hits) despite striking out six batters. He allowed three home runs, one more than he allowed in all of 2025. The slow start led to his demotion to Triple-A Buffalo on April 5. This move was likely a way to give Little a breather from the high-stress environment of MLB. Little relies heavily on his sinker and knuckle curve, throwing them a combined 80 percent of the time in each of his three MLB seasons. Lately, he's been leaving the sinker in the zone, resulting in him allowing batters to hit .800 off the 41 sinkers he has thrown in 2026. The pitch's 30.2 inches of drop and 12.6 inches of arm-side break weren't fooling hitters, and the reliever needs to figure out why. Little's knuckle curve has been his go-to strikeout pitch over his career. This season, it has resulted in a 50 percent whiff rate on 14 swings (36 pitches). The breaking ball has also recorded all six of the 29-year-old's strikeouts. The whiff percentage for his knuckle curve is on par with his career results, but hitters are swinging at the pitch less often, and they have a batting average of .250 against it. That batting average is higher than in the last two seasons, when hitters didn't exceed a .160 average. Little needs to figure out how to get back to limiting damage against his knuckle curve. His top two pitches are being put in play for hits too consistently to be successful in MLB. Though the start of his season has been disappointing, Little is a talented pitcher and has shown he can succeed in the big leagues. He's 29, but it's only his third MLB season, so this could be a confidence issue, as well. The struggles could also be a mechanical issue that needs a tweak. Regardless of the issue, this breather in Buffalo will allow Little to work on his game in a less stressful environment. Hopefully, when the lefty returns to the Blue Jays, we see the dominant first-half of 2025 version of Little. View full article

The last time the Toronto Blue Jays won the Rookie of the Year Award was in 2002, when Halle Berry won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball, the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl, and the “Rally Monkey” became famous, leading the then Anaheim Angels to the World Series title. In that season, the Toronto Blue Jays finished 78-84 under manager Buck Martinez, and Eric Hinske won the AL Rookie of the Year Award. The former third baseman and outfielder hit 24 home runs, scored 99 times, knocked in 84 runs, and stole 13 bases. It’s hard to believe that Hinske was the last Blue Jay to win the Rookie of the Year Award, but the team hasn’t had many standout rookie performances since then. The only one that was worthy of consideration for the award was Marcus Stroman’s 2014 season, when he had a record of 11-6, a 3.65 ERA, and struck out 111 batters. The wait may be over this season as the Blue Jays have the top two favorites for the award with Trey Yesavage and Kazuma Okamoto. Yesavage has +370 odds, and Okamoto has +500 odds. During the end of last season, Yesavage started three games, where he posted a 3.21 ERA and had a 16:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In the postseason, he came up clutch in big games. In Game 2 of the ALCS, he helped the Blue Jays take a 2-0 series lead. The rookie threw 5 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees, striking out 11 batters. In Game 6 of the ALDS, Yesavage helped the Blue Jays even the series 3-3 after throwing 5 2/3 strong innings while striking out seven Seattle Mariners batters. In Game 5 of the World Series, he got the win to give the team a 3-2 series lead, but we all know how that ended. In the game, he threw seven innings and struck out 12 Los Angeles Dodgers hitters. This success is why the righty is the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year Award going into the season, but it'll be interesting to watch how the Blue Jays handle Yesavage's workload throughout the season. Yesavage’s teammate, Okamoto, also has a strong case to claim the award. He will be making his first season in America and in MLB. While in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, Okamoto hit at least 25 home runs in seven straight seasons before an elbow injury broke that streak last season. Though he was on a good pace to extend the streak with 15 homers halfway through the season. Yesavage and Okamoto have stiff competition for the award, though. Kevin McGonigle (Detroit Tigers) has +550 odds, Carter Jensen (Kansas City Royals) has +600 odds, Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox) has +800 odds, and Tatsuya Imai (Houston Astros) has +850 odds. This may be the season the Blue Jays finally win the AL Rookie of the Year Award since 2002. With the two leading favorites on the team, it’s the best chance the team has had in a while. It won’t come easy, though, with McGonigle and Jensen heavily hyped, and two other Japanese players (Murakami and Imai) making their first appearances overseas. View full article