Bryan Jaeger

Davis Schneider started the season as a platoon player, mostly only batting against left-handed pitchers, but a strong August has allowed him to get more starts against right-handers as well. However, as the regular season nears its end, it doesn't seem like his stats fully warrant the change. The utility player had a rough start to the season, going 1-for-11, and was soon sent down to Triple-A Buffalo. He was recalled on June 1, due to Daulton Varsho's hamstring injury, and finished the first half of the season, slashing .218/.344/.436 with a .780 OPS and a 122 wRC+. He hit five home runs, scored 14 times, knocked in 11, and walked 13 times, though he struck out at an excessive rate (31.2%) over 93 plate appearances. Schneider's ability to play multiple positions has allowed him to earn more regular playing time, bouncing between left field and second base. A strong August also ensured that the 26-year-old would receive more at-bats, as he slashed .327/.377/.673, with a massive increase in OPS (1.051) and wRC+ (189). He hit five home runs, scored 10 runs, and drove in 16 over 53 plate appearances in the month. That said, he struggled to draw walks and continued striking out. His four walks in August are tied for his lowest in any individual month of his career, and he struck out more than 30% of the time. So far in September, Schneider has fallen back down to earth, looking the worst he has since the opening of the season. He is slashing .194/.333/.278 with a .611 OPS and an 82 wRC+. The lone bright spot is that Schneider has been able to draw eight walks (17.8% walk rate) with only 11 strikeouts (24.4% strikeout rate). However, he has only produced one home run, scored four, and knocked in two. The decreased production has led to him being pinch-hit for against right-handed relievers later in games, even when he initially gets the start against a righty, as was the case on Tuesday. With Schneider's return to a moderate platoon role, it may be worth pointing out that, surprisingly, he has hit better against right-handers this season. On the year, he's had 123 plate appearances against lefties (.223/.350/.379) compared to 96 against righties (.263/.375/.538), yet he's performed better against right-handers. The utility player has a .728 OPS and 111 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers compared to a .913 OPS and 153 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. Additionally, he has struck out 13 fewer times against right-handed pitchers (36 compared to 23) in 27 fewer plate appearances. Another notable detail is that Schneider has hit better at home against left-handed pitchers but better on the road against right-handed pitchers (per FanGraphs). The samples are tiny in a split like this, but even if this isn't anything more than randomness, it's a fun statistical note: Despite his recent struggles, Schneider has proven that he deserves the opportunity to face right-handed pitchers more often moving forward. That may happen in the postseason if Joey Loperfido, who has often been the lefty batter to substitute for Schneider later in games, is left off the postseason roster. Anthony Santander's performance over the next few days and Bo Bichette's health are two more factors to consider. So, it will be interesting to see how manager John Schneider uses his surname-sharing utility player in the postseason. View full article

Hopes were high after the Blue Jays signed 2024 Silver Slugger Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract this past offseason. But his debut season with the team has been rough. Expected to be a key contributor, Santander struggled before being placed on the injured list on May 29 with left shoulder inflammation. He hit .179/.273/.304 with 14 runs, six home runs, 18 knocked in, and 55 strikeouts over 209 plate appearances before his injury. While Santander struggled and spent time on the injured list, the Blue Jays thrived, working their way to the top of the AL East and the best record in the American League. This now forces manager John Schneider to weigh whether reintroducing Santander, in the hope that he regains his 2024 form, is worth disrupting a well-performing lineup — or if maintaining chemistry is the smarter move, even if it means sidelining Toronto's $92.5 million signing. Santander began a rehab assignment last Thursday, and his numbers for Triple-A Buffalo have been modest: a .222/.364/.444 batting line and an .808 OPS over 22 plate appearances. To his credit, he has shown patience at the plate, drawing four walks, and two of his four hits have gone for extra bases. If he continues to improve, the Blue Jays will face a tough decision about his fit — especially after Bo Bichette's September 6 knee sprain. The shortstop will not return before the end of the regular season (per Sportnet's Arden Zwelling), though Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports he could return in the postseason. Since Bichette's injury, Schneider has reshuffled his infield to fill the void. Andrés Giménez has moved to shortstop, Ernie Clement is spending more time at second base, and Addison Barger has come in from right field to take more regular reps at third. This change has allowed Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider more opportunities in right and left field, respectively, while Daulton Varsho remains a fixture in center. George Springer has been the primary designated hitter this season, which may be a contributing factor to his success. More time off his feet could be what's helping him stay fresh and productive. What's more, playing Springer in the field could mean removing fellow righty-batting outfielder Schneider, who has had a solid second half (.256/.358/.489, .847 OPS, 136 wRC+) despite a slump in September (.182/.296/.318, .614 OPS, 74 wRC+). Schneider needs at-bats to recover in time for the postseason. Santander made his first outfield appearance for the Bisons on Wednesday, and he has until September 21 to prove he's ready, because that's when Triple-A Buffalo's season ends. This timeline gives him only a few more days to demonstrate that he's back to full strength. The Blue Jays will then have to make a complicated decision regarding the roster for the remainder of the season. For one thing, the Blue Jays will need to free up space for Santander on the 40-man roster, which likely means designating someone else for assignment. Then, for Santander to be added to the 28-man roster, Joey Loperfido would likely be removed. Loperfido has been shuttling between Triple A and the majors this season, making him the most viable option. Yet bringing Santander back also means the team will have to give him at-bats, likely at the expense of Schneider, who has been dependable more often than not and needs playing time to rediscover his July form. Myles Straw and Ty France are two other options, but they are unlikely to go due to their contract status and defensive positions. Unlike Loperfido, neither Straw nor France can be optioned to minors. Moreover, Straw has been steady in the outfield, playing all three spots well and hitting .264/.314/.366 with a .680 OPS. France has been solid since coming over from the Twins. The veteran first baseman has backed up Vladimir Guerrero Jr., hitting .301/.348/.410 since the trade, with a .757 OPS. It's also worth considering the potential ramifications for the playoffs. Rosters shrink from 28 back down to 26 in the postseason. If Santander makes the ALDS roster, another position player from the current group (in addition to Loperfido) will most likely lose their spot. The situation only becomes more complicated if/when Bichette returns. With Buffalo's season ending soon, he likely won't have time to go on a proper rehab assignment for his knee, which might mean he is only able to return as a DH, forcing further corner outfield adjustments. Springer's spot in right field would be secure, leaving one final opening in the starting outfield to be shared by whichever of Santander, Lukes, Schneider, and Straw are on the postseason roster. The Blue Jays, 59-34 since the beginning of June, have been making things look easy lately, but soon, they'll have to make some very difficult decisions. Hopefully, Santander will come out swinging and quickly make all of those decisions worthwhile. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays have entered the final weeks of the season. They hold a narrow lead over the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East. Teams hope to be at their best for the final push, but the Blue Jays recently suffered a massive blow. On Saturday, star shortstop Bo Bichette sustained a knee sprain and landed on the injured list. He will miss at least the next seven days (his IL placement was retroactive to Sept. 7), but a timetable for his return has not yet been set. The good news is that after the Houston Astros series, the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are next on the schedule, two teams with records of .500 or worse. Hopefully, this injury isn't severe, and Bichette can return before the postseason begins. However, if the Blue Jays can lock up the AL East title early, they may hold him out a little longer to ensure he's healthy for the postseason. With that in mind, it's essential to consider how the team will address his absence on the field. Replacing Bichette will be a significant challenge, as his offensive contributions (.311 batting average, .357 on-base percentage, 94 RBI, and 18 home runs) are difficult to match. Without him, the lineup loses both production and consistency at the plate, potentially weakening the team's ability to generate runs during a critical stretch. The 27-year-old has also improved his walk-to-strikeout ratio this season to 0.44, a career high. This is thanks to dropping his strikeout rate by five percentage points to a career low (14.5%). What's more, there's a reason he had been batting fourth, a spot typically reserved for a team's best power hitter. He's producing big numbers and consistently puts the ball in play, helping him drive in runs. His 94 RBI lead the team; no one else has driven in so many as 80. Thus, Bichette is now set to receive a big payday this offseason when he hits free agency. Replicating his production won't be easy. Joey Loperfido was recalled to take Bichette's roster spot, but he's an outfielder, so Ernie Clement will likely be the one who primarily mans shortstop for the time being. Clement has been a utility man all season, mainly filling in at second and third base, but he should still be a defensive upgrade over Bichette. However, he severely lacks the offensive production that Bichette provided from the middle of the batting order. In 523 appearances at the plate, Clement has scored 71 runs with nine home runs, 42 knocked in, and a slash line of .275/.312/.398. Due to a lack of power, Clement will likely continue to bat in the bottom third of the lineup. Daulton Varsho, who is enjoying an impressive power surge this season, will likely move up one spot in the lineup to keep a power bat in the four hole. Clement could receive some help from the newly acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Kiner-Falefa was waived by the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 29 and later claimed by the Blue Jays. He returned to Toronto after having signed a two-year deal with the team in 2024 and then being traded to the Pirates at last season's trade deadline. Kiner-Falefa brings another veteran glove to the field, but he hasn't produced much with the bat this season. In 428 plate appearances with the Pirates, he scored 40 runs and drove in 35; however, he only homered once. That lack of production could be at least partially due to playing for a struggling Pirates team. Still, he will likely only be used to give Clement rest at shortstop, unless another injury occurs. Defensively, the loss of Bichette is less severe. The Blue Jays won't lose much, as Clement is a very solid infielder. Bichette has -0.5 dWAR on the season (per Baseball Reference) with 12 errors and a .972 fielding percentage in 426 total chances. Clement improves upon those numbers with his 2.1 dWAR, 10 errors, and .977 fielding percentage over 442 total chances. With Clement moving to shortstop, Addison Barger will likely leave right field to cover third base more regularly, while Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, Myles Straw, and Loperfido (and occasionally George Springer) will hold down the outfield corners. No matter how you look at the situation, the Blue Jays were dealt a troubling card. The offense had been rolling, ranking fourth in runs (715) and leading MLB in batting average (.269) and on-base percentage (.338) before Bichette's injury. Bichette was a major contributor to that success. Hopefully, the Blue Jays can manage to secure the AL East title while Bichette returns to full health, and their shortstop is able to return for the deep postseason run that the fans are anticipating. View full article

During the first half of this season, Daulton Varsho played in only 24 games due to a hamstring injury, missing most of April and all of June and July. In 100 plate appearances, he scored 14 runs, hit eight home runs, and drove in 20, but struggled to get on base, posting a .207/.240/.543 slash line and a 102 wRC+. However, since returning from his second IL stint of the year, Varsho's performance has changed dramatically — he's reaching base more often and hitting for even more power than before. Since returning on August 1, Varsho has taken 107 trips to the plate and has scored 18 times, hit 10 home runs, and knocked in 18. He's been a reliable on-base guy in the lineup too, slashing .269/.346/.645, and has increased his wRC+ to 165. His full-season 135 wRC+ would easily be a career best if the season ended today. The continued power has been a massive part of his game in the second half. The center fielder is nine home runs shy of his career high (27 in 2022), but is also 385 plate appearances short of his 2022 total (592). The Toronto Blue Jays are reaping the rewards of Varsho's recent uptick in power production, and there are reasons to believe the increase isn't a fluke. According to Baseball Savant, Varsho has set career highs in several key metrics this season, including hard-hit percentage (42.0%), average exit velocity (90.1 mph), launch angle sweet spot percentage (35.9%), and barrel percentage (17.6%). Excelling in each of these areas helps batters hit the ball over the fence. The increase in barrel percentage is a significant contributor to Varsho's improved on-base and power performance. His current barrel percentage is 11.4 percentage points higher than last season. This is the first time in his career that he's improved in this statistic by more than 2.9 percentage points from one season to the next. Another significant improvement Varsho has made has been hitting offspeed pitches more successfully. The outfielder's batting average has increased to .343 against these pitches, which is higher than his previous career high from 2022 (.260). His .316 expected batting average against offspeed stuff is also a career high. In particular, the 29-year-old's slugging percentage (1.086) and expected slugging percentage (.885) off offspeed pitches have drastically improved this season. Previously, Varsho had never slugged higher than .456 against offspeed pitches. The sample is small, but the results are impossible to ignore. To that point, offspeed pitches have accounted for only 13.8% of pitches he has seen, likely because he's been so effective against them. For context, his 1.086 slugging on offspeed pitches exceeds his slugging on fastballs (.505) and breaking balls (.422) by a wide margin. Being able to eliminate a pitch type can assist a hitter in ending at-bats successfully. Varsho, in the second half, has only been swinging even harder and making better swing decisions. His average bat speed is higher than it was in 2023 and '24, and his fast swing rate (the percentage of his swings about 75 mph) has significantly increased since he returned from his second IL stint. What's more, he is striking out just 26.2% of the time, compared to his 31.0% strikeout rate earlier in the season. That's still higher than his career average, but an increased strikeout rate is a common occurrence for a hitter tapping into more power. Blue Jays fans can rest easy knowing his current power surge should be largely sustainable. Varsho's impressive production in just 54 games raises what-ifs about his missed time, but that time off also may have allowed him to refine his approach. Most importantly, if he continues these trends, he will remain a major contributor to the lineup for the rest of the season. Stats updated prior to games on September 9. View full article

The Wild Card Series will begin September 30, but there's still much to fight for. The Blue Jays and Astros have slim leads in their divisions, while the Tigers seem to have secured the AL Central. The race for the top two seeds, which come with first-round byes, remains close. For most of the season, the Blue Jays have looked like a strong team and a serious World Series contender. August was a setback; they had the 11th-best record in MLB in the month (15-12), but their bullpen took a massive step backward. Tommy Nance was the lone bright spot in the bullpen, with a 0.59 ERA and a 17:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the month. The 34-year-old was the only reliever who threw at least four innings with under a 4.00 ERA in August. Despite the bullpen's struggles, the starting rotation has continued to thrive. Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, and Chris Bassitt all posted sub-4.00 ERAs in August. Bieber, returning from Tommy John surgery, has posted a 4.15 ERA across three games, skewed by a rough outing against the Reds last week. He had a 2.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts in his first two starts. Scherzer produced his best month of the season in August, posting a 3.34 ERA, although he gave up four earned runs to each of the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers in his last two outings of the month. The 41-year-old had a respectable 23:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the outings, though. Gausman has been up and down all season, but he has had back-to-back successful months with ERAs of 2.51 and 3.55 in July and August, respectively. The ace of the rotation is looking in good form after posting a 35:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio last month. Bassitt struggled after a strong April (2.86 ERA), but improved in August to 3.67 ERA. However, he developed control issues, allowing 14 walks and at least two in every outing, which has continued in September. José Berríos, once a standout, has posted 5.83 and 4.64 ERAs over the past two months, with 10 home runs allowed. Only once did he exceed 90 pitches in 10 outings. He and Bassitt are likely to compete for the fourth ALDS rotation spot, with the loser headed to the bullpen or off the roster. Despite uneven pitching, the offense is still shining. Since August 1, the Blue Jays rank first in batting average and OBP, second in OPS, and fourth in runs and RBI. Davis Schneider surprised in August, hitting .327/.377/.673 with five home runs and 16 RBIs as a utility player filling in due to injuries. The Blue Jays have a potent offense and rotation, and if their bullpen regains its mid-season form, this team will be well-rounded and ready to contend for the World Series. To assess their chances, let's examine the contenders they may face as they aim to represent the American League. New York Yankees The Yankees trail by two games in the AL East but lead the Wild Card race. Like the Blue Jays, they thrive on offense and starting pitching, though their bullpen has struggled less. In August, Cam Schlittler (1.60 ERA), Will Warren (2.84), Carlos Rodón (3.15), and Luis Gil (3.68) excelled. Max Fried struggled in July and August, but posted much better ERAs in earlier months, and he's looked much better in his last few starts. The Yankees have been slightly better than the Blue Jays in both offensive and bullpen production, ranking among the top three clubs in most key offensive statistics. With Aaron Judge coming back from injury and five relievers posting ERAs under 4.00 last month, these two teams look very closely matched overall. Boston Red Sox The Red Sox are third in the AL East, sitting 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays and holding the second Wild Card position with a three-game lead for the final spot. They differ from their division rivals ahead of them because they have a mediocre offense, but a stellar bullpen. Aroldis Chapman leads the 'pen, having not allowed a run to score in his last 17 outings; he has only allowed six earned runs in 60 outings all season. He's also converted 29 saves in 31 opportunities. Opposing teams don't want to be trailing in the ninth inning, because you know who is coming out of the bullpen, and he's been unhittable all year. Chapman has held opposing hitters to a .112 batting average. Boston also has some talented starting pitchers to ease pressure on their middling offense. Starters Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito posted sub-3.20 ERAs in August, as did seven relievers with at least five innings each. However, only Roman Anthony and Trevor Story have provided consistent offensive production lately. They combined for 11 home runs in August, while the rest of the team combined for 18. Detroit Tigers The Tigers have taken advantage of the AL Central's struggles this season, boasting a 29-17 record in the division. Their offense, like the Red Sox's, ranks closer to the middle of the pack in most key offensive categories, both lately and on the season. Collectively, their starting pitchers have performed well on the season, but in August, Tarik Skubal (2.52 ERA) was their only starter to finish the month with an ERA under 4.00. The bullpen, meanwhile, is now reeling from the loss of Kyle Finnegan. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals, he was outstanding in August, not allowing a run in 12 outings for the Tigers. So, despite having the best record in the American League, the Tigers don't look like a scary team, and they won't unless their pitching staff as a whole takes a massive step forward in September. Houston Astros The Astros started the season off hot through June, with a 50-34 record, but they cooled off in July (12-13) and August (13-15). On offense, Christian Walker experienced a power surge in August, hitting eight of his 22 home runs, scoring 16 times, and knocking in 19. Aside from Walker, however, the Astros' offense struggled in August, ranking 29 in runs and RBI. The team was glad to welcome back three-time All-Star Yordan Alvarez from a hand fracture that had kept him out of the lineup since May 2. Houston's pitching staff ranked 19th in ERA in August (4.36), despite their ace, Hunter Brown, posting a 1.67 ERA in 37 2/3 innings and fellow starter Jason Alexander having his best month of production by far (2.17). The bullpen was carried by Bryan Abreu, Kaleb Ort, and Steven Okert following Josh Hader's injury. Each of Abreu, Ort, and Okert threw 12 or more innings in August with an ERA of 2.30 or better. The Astros might not currently look like a team to be feared, but they have extensive postseason experience and have consistently found ways to succeed in October. Among the American League contenders, the Blue Jays and Yankees appear to be the most well-rounded teams, though the Tigers are also favourites due to their favourable position in the standings. However, earning the number one seed might not be ideal, as the current postseason picture indicates that the top seed would likely face the Yankees in the ALDS, and then possibly the number two seed in the ALCS. This could mean two particularly tough series — though in October, anything can happen. View full article

August has seen the Blue Jays' bullpen's worst performance of the season so far. Their 4.76 ERA in the month doesn't look as bad as they've really been, thanks to 34-year-old Tommy Nance. He has pitched better than ever before since his call-up in mid-July. Out of the nine bullpen arms that threw more than four innings in August, Nance was the only one to finish the month with an ERA under 4.00. His 6 1/3 innings and 1.35 ERA in July were surprisingly bested by his August numbers. The righty threw 15 1/3 innings, posting a 0.59 ERA and a 17:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Nance hasn't finished a season with better than a 4.09 ERA in his career, so the Blue Jays need to ride this success through September. However, like many other arms in the bullpen, he's nearing his previous career high in innings and may see some regression, as is normal toward the end of the season. Between his outings in the minors and majors, Nance is at 53 2/3 innings, just short of the 55 1/3 he threw in 2022 and '24. The rest of the bullpen has also been heavily taxed, and their performances are showing the results of it. Yariel Rodríguez excelled during the first half of the season, posting a 2.47 ERA in 47 1/3 innings, but that number increased significantly due to a 7.71 ERA in 17 1/3 innings in August. Control was a massive issue for the 28-year-old in August, resulting in nine walks to just eight strikeouts. He also allowed hitters to bat .273 against him. Rodríguez had been a starting pitcher before this season, having started for two seasons in Japan and last season with the Blue Jays. He moved to the bullpen due to a surplus of starters the team had early in the year and Bowden Francis's late-season success in 2024. Early on, Rodríguez saw positive results in his new role, but as the season has progressed, the second-year pro has struggled to maintain his success. Brendon Little has spent most of the season as the primary left-handed option out of the bullpen, in part because Eric Lauer moved into the starting rotation full-time after Francis's injury. Lauer had been a long reliever and another go-to option against left-handed batters early in the season. He was successful in that role, posting a 0.96 ERA in 18.2 innings. With the extra workload, Little has pulled within 15 innings of his career high as a reliever, although he threw 101 1/3 innings as a starter in 2018. The lefty's ERA this season has steadily grown each month since June. He finished June with a 3.75 ERA, but then posted ERAs of 4.50 and 5.23 for the next two months. The Blue Jays tried to ease Little's workload by calling up Mason Fluharty and Justin Bruihl at different times, but neither has been successful as Little was at his best. Fluharty has a 4.94 ERA in 47 1/3 innings, and Bruihl a 5.68 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. Both are currently with Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays recently added another southpaw, Ryan Borucki, who was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Borucki was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2012 and received his first call-up with Toronto in 2018, although he's struggled mightily over his eight-year MLB career. Little and Borucki should receive some assistance from Lauer returning to the bullpen; Schneider announced on Monday that the Blue Jays would return to a five-man rotation. Major trade acquisitions, Seranthony Domínguez and Louis Varland have fallen short of expectations since arriving in Toronto. Domínguez has a 4.22 ERA in August, his worst since May (7.15), and he struggled with control, allowing nine free passes compared to 11 strikeouts. Varland had been outstanding all season, but struggled in August, posting a 6.00 ERA and allowing batters to hit .304 off of him. Domínguez's 55 1/3 innings pitched aren't near his career high of 76, set as a starter in the minors in 2013, but he hasn't exceeded 60 innings since 2018. Like Rodríguez, Varland also started his major league career as a starting pitcher, but he is beginning to see the toll of a full season as a reliever, as this is his first season in a permanent bullpen role. Chris Bassitt addressed the bullpen's workload in a recent interview, saying, "... there's probably a lot of hatred, so to speak, on the bullpen, but I mean, those guys are tired." This issue may be why the rest of the bullpen has struggled, despite only ranking 12th in MLB in innings pitched (509 1/3). The problem is that the Blue Jays' bullpen has had a few injuries, and minor-league call-ups haven't performed well, forcing manager John Schneider to rely heavily on many of the same relievers all season. The Blue Jays' bullpen suffered a massive blow last weekend when it was announced that Yimi García would need season-ending surgery on his right elbow to remove scar tissue near a nerve. The righty had a 3.86 ERA through 21 innings this season. Another costly loss has been that of Nick Sandlin, who hasn't pitched since early July. He posted a 2.20 ERA through 16 1/3 innings. There is hope that once Sandlin's anti-inflammatory injection takes full effect, he will be able to resume throwing, but his chances of contributing again this year are slim. The Blue Jays' most recent call-ups have been Borucki and Dillon Tate, both of whom can help ease the bullpen's workload. Tate has struggled with control over his 6 1/3 innings this season, allowing seven free passes. Considering Toronto's narrow lead over the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East race, we may see a few more prospects get their shot at the big league to try to assist the Blue Jays in winning their first AL East title since 2015. Will we see highly-rated prospect Trey Yesavage this month? It's far from a sure thing, but fans should be excited about the possible debut of the future face of the franchise. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays hold a 2.5-game lead in the AL East following their loss against the Cincinnati Reds in Monday's series opener. However, despite sitting atop the division, the Blue Jays have gone just 5-5 in their last 10 games. As a result, they've seen their lead over the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees shrink; each is 7-3 in that same span. The Blue Jays have 24 games remaining. A closer look at their remaining schedule reveals key matchups that will significantly impact the AL East title race. They entered September with the 11th-strongest remaining schedule (according to Tankathon), featuring three-game series against five different teams still competing for a postseason spot: the Reds, Red Sox, Yankees, Houston Astros, and Kansas City Royals. The Blue Jays have begun their series with the Reds, and later this week, they will travel to face the Yankees. The starting rotation was originally set up quite favorably for the Yankees series, with Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, and Eric Lauer projected to face the Reds, setting up Toronto's top three pitchers from August to take on their division rivals. Yet, with the news that Lauer is returning to the bullpen, Shane Bieber is now expected to start the series finale in Cincinnati, setting up Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, and Bassitt to start the games in the Bronx. Returning from Tommy John surgery, Bieber has looked sharp. ESPN's Buster Olney said after Bieber's first start that the Blue Jays may have made "the best deal made by any team in the sport" (video linked below). If Bieber continues to show the skills he possessed earlier in his career, then the Blue Jays added another formidable pitcher to a starting rotation that showed signs of flourishing in August. Also in the video linked below, ESPN statistician Paul Hembekides highlighted five statistics to show that the 30-year-old looked the best he has in years: In his first start back, Bieber (1) posted the best Location+ grade (124) from any start of his entire eight-year career; (2) averaged the fastest velocity on his four-seam fastball (92.7 mph) since August 2022; (3) averaged the fastest velocity on his cutter (88.2 mph) since May 2022; (4) averaged the highest RPM on his breaking balls (2,624) since April 2021; and (5) averaged 35 inches of drop on his changeup, a career high. Bieber pitched well again in his second outing, and over two starts, the 30-year-old has posted a 2.38 ERA with a 16:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Two of his three earned runs have come via solo homers. His command has been pinpoint, and the Blue Jays will hope this level of production continues for the rest of the season. However, it won't be on display in the Yankees series. Instead, Gausman is slated to start the opening game of the series against Cam Schlittler. In August, Gausman threw 38 innings, posting a 3.55 ERA and a 35:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 34-year-old allowed two or fewer runs in four of his six August starts. Notably, two of those games came against NL Central rivals — teams currently battling for the division crown, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers — and he produced a combined 11:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in those starts. Clearly, he's been performing strongly down the stretch against quality competition. The second game of the Yankees series will see Scherzer take on Luis Gil. Nearly unhittable in his first five August starts, Scherzer threw 31 innings with a 2.61 ERA and a 22:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 41-year-old delivered four quality starts in those five games. He allowed just two earned runs in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers and just one earned run in six or more frames against each of the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He struggled somewhat in his final start of the month, only lasting four innings against the Brewers and giving up two home runs. Still, that one outing aside, his performance this past month was highly encouraging. The pivotal finale on Sunday will see Bassitt face Max Fried. Bassitt ended July on a rough note but bounced back in August, pitching to a 3.67 ERA with a 27:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in five starts. He looked especially sharp yesterday against the Reds, notching a quality start with six innings of two-run ball. This series against New York is a must-win for Toronto. Not only are the Yankees hot on the Jays' tails, but the Yankees entered September with the 10th-easiest remaining schedule (per Tankathon). Their final weeks feature games against the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox, as well as two series against the Baltimore Orioles – all teams with a record under .500. That said, before those games, the Yankees will take on several division leaders, including the Astros, Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers. They'll also play a key three-game series against the Red Sox. The Yankees are likely the biggest threat to the Blue Jays holding onto the AL East. The Red Sox entered September with the eighth-strongest remaining schedule (per Tankathon), including upcoming series against the Tigers, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Cleveland Guardians, making their path more challenging. The September 12-14 weekend series between the Yankees and Red Sox could be beneficial to the Blue Jays, who play the Orioles that weekend. The Blue Jays trail the Tigers by half a game for the best record in the American League. The Tigers entered September with Tankathon's eighth-easiest remaining schedule, but they still must face both the Red Sox and Yankees, as well as the New York Mets. They also have two series against their division rivals, the Guardians. The tough series against the Red Sox and Yankees could benefit the Blue Jays in the standings if the Jays can win while their rivals play each other. The Tigers play the Yankees from September 9-11 and the Red Sox from September 26-28, the final three games of the season. No matter which team you support, September promises to be stressful. Still, for the Blue Jays, opportunities to secure their fate lie in each matchup versus teams vying for a postseason berth. Additionally, teams fighting for a postseason berth could beat up on one another, offering the Blue Jays indirect advantages. If the Blue Jays manage to secure a Wild Card Round bye, their starting rotation will be perfectly set for the ALDS. View full article

During August, a majority of the pitchers who have been excelling took a massive step in the wrong direction. For the most part, the starters have been decent, and the bullpen has been brutal during the month. The Blue Jays have a 14-11 record in August, but had a relatively even month in terms of difficulty, with a three-game series against four teams with below .500 records and five series against teams still fighting for a postseason birth. They went 8-4 against teams below .500, against the Rockies, Pirates, Marlins, and Twins, but are 6-8 against teams still in the postseason race: the Royals, Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers, and Brewers. Among pitchers with four or more innings in August, only four of the 15 eligible pitchers have an ERA under 4.00. It's been a rough month for the entire staff, which made finding the standouts a relatively easy task. Luckily for the Blue Jays, while the pitching staff struggled, the offense has been outstanding. Amongst the entire MLB in the month, the Blue Jays' offense ranks in the top three in OPS, runs, RBIs, and home runs. In this article, I will highlight a few standout pitching performances in August and name the Pitcher of the Month. Honorable Mentions: Shane Bieber: 11.1 IP, 2.38 ERA, 15 K, 3.03 FIP, 0.3fWAR Bieber has made an impressive debut in 2025. He left after two starts in 2024 with an injury that required Tommy John surgery, and the Blue Jays took a chance trading for the former ace at the trade deadline. He's been as advertised in his two starts this season. His first start was six innings against the Miami Marlins, allowing two hits and one earned run off a Javier Sanoja home run. His second start was against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have the best record in MLB. Bieber threw five scoreless innings before allowing two earned runs in the sixth inning, including an Andruw Monasterio solo homer. If the Blue Jays continue to receive this production from the 30-year-old, their ALDS starting rotation will be formidable. Brendon Little: 10 IP, 5.40 ERA, 9 K, 4.32 FIP, 1.1 fWAR Little may be seeing some regression after a stellar season, where he's been the primary left-handed option in the bullpen, with Eric Lauer needed to start games due to injuries. Mason Fluharty and Justin Bruihl have bounced between Triple-A and the pros to help ease Little's workload, but the duo has been inconsistent. Little threw 45 2/3 innings in his first full season in the majors last season, but has already exceeded that total this season (58 1/3). He has been one of many relievers with control issues in August, walking nine batters and hitting one. September callups may be key to easing Little's workload before a postseason run, where he will be leaned on as the primary lefty in the bullpen, unless Lauer moves to the pen. In his first three outings in August, Little allowed a combined four earned runs, but went nine straight outings without allowing an earned run before giving up two in the first game of a three-game series against the Brewers. #3 - Chris Bassitt 27 IP, 3.67 ERA, 27 K, 4.82 FIP, 1.9 fWAR Except for March and April (2.62 ERA), August has been Bassitt's best performance on the season. However, he's struggled with control, walking 14 batters and hitting two. Bassitt has been able to hold batters to hitting only .214 off of him, which is the best monthly batting average against for the 36-year-old. The Blue Jays have announced they will be using a six-man rotation down the stretch, and Bassitt's season-long struggles make him the sixth-best starting pitcher. He will need a strong September if he wants to avoid being the odd man out to make the ALDS roster and likely join the bullpen. #2 - Max Scherzer 31 IP, 2.61 ERA, 22 K, 4.67 FIP, 0.6 fWAR Scherzer has had an outstanding August with four quality starts in five starts. He has a 22:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but his one struggle is allowing home runs. Seven of the nine earned runs the righty has allowed have come from five home runs. Scherzer has a 4-1 record in August, and that includes a 2-1 record against teams vying for a postseason birth: the Royals, the Dodgers, and the Cubs. With the sixth-strongest remaining and a bullpen struggling, the Blue Jays will need quality outings from their starters. #1 - Tommy Nance 14.1 IP, 0.63 ERA, 16 K, 1.94 FIP, 0.5 fWAR Tommy Nance has been a surprising standout in the bullpen in August. His history isn't appealing, as he hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 in his short four-season career, despite being 34 and having never pitched more than 44 innings in a season. He has allowed 10 hits in 1, but has proven his capability to get out of innings, leaving runners on base. Walks have been a massive issue for the bullpen in the month, but Nance has only walked four. The righty is the only bullpen arm with four or more outings with under a 4.00 ERA in August. His outstanding performance has earned the 34-year-old the honor of Pitcher of the Month in August. View full article

The Blue Jays’ bullpen has fallen apart in August. Despite the offense ranking in the top two in many categories, the bullpen has struggled with control and allowing runs. With a narrow lead in the AL East, the bullpen needs to improve if the Blue Jays want a deep postseason run. View full video

After a narrow series win over the Miami Marlins, the Toronto Blue Jays still top the AL East, comfortably ahead of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The AL Central's likely winner, the Detroit Tigers, have the AL's best record. However, the Blue Jays are currently leading the Houston Astros for the No. 2 seed, which would still earn them a first-round bye. Although the Blue Jays have more than a month of games left to play against tough opponents like the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas City Royals, I'm going to take a look at what Toronto's starting rotation could look like in the ALDS. Currently, the rotation includes Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Eric Lauer, and the newly added Shane Bieber. Prior to games on August 25, the Blue Jays' rotation ranked 19th in MLB in ERA (4.32), making this a good time to add Bieber to the mix. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for prospect Khal Stephen at the trade deadline. Bieber made two starts in 2024 before suffering an injury that required Tommy John surgery. In his MLB return Friday, he threw six innings, gave up two hits, and recorded nine strikeouts on 87 pitches. He looked sharp, throwing 55 strikes, with the only run coming on a second-inning Javier Sanoja homer. Continued quality starts from the righty would make the trade a clear success, adding a potential number one starter to a World Series contender. The Blue Jays' rotation is a veteran group, with each pitcher in their thirties or, in Scherzer's case, early forties. To keep them healthy, the team is using a six-man rotation, at least temporarily, which will help manage the workload for Gausman, Berríos, and Bassitt, who have all thrown over 140 innings this season. Lauer, who joined the rotation mid-season due to injuries, has pitched 88 innings — more than he threw in 2023 and '24 combined (between MLB and the KBO). In 2022, he threw a career-high 158 2/3 innings, so he should be able to handle the workload ahead of him. The lefty has been outstanding, posting a 3.25 ERA as a starter and a 0.96 ERA in relief. If he continues to pitch like this, manager John Schneider will have a tough decision to make regarding Lauer's role in the postseason. He has earned a start. Currently, the projected ALDS rotation for the Blue Jays looks to feature Gausman in Game 1 and Berríos in Game 2. If Bieber maintains his health and effectiveness, he would slot in as the Game 3 starter, although he could swap spots with Berríos. For a potential Game 4, Scherzer is the leading option due to his strong August performance (1.80 ERA), but his role could depend on matchups and his form in September. Lauer is another viable candidate for either a starting role or a bullpen job, depending on team needs. Bassitt, meanwhile, appears more likely to serve as a long reliever, or he could be left off the series roster entirely, depending on the final roster construction and Toronto's opponent. Schneider currently has a good problem: too many quality starting pitchers. While Lauer has joked, "I'm glad I'm not the one making the decisions," these difficult choices exemplify the team's depth. With this rotation's talent and flexibility, the Blue Jays are legitimate World Series contenders, ready to capitalize on their depth and veteran experience to seize the moment this postseason. Stats updated prior to games on August 25. View full article

Tommy Nance has had very little success over his short-lived career; he's had a short stint in MLB every season since 2021, although he missed the entire 2023 season due to having Tommy John surgery. During the seasons he spent in the pros, he never exceeded 45 innings. The righty's MLB career started in 2021 with the Chicago Cubs, where Nance threw 11 1/3 scoreless innings in his first 12 appearances, but he completed the season, giving up 23 earned runs over 17 1/3 innings. Nance was designated for assignment before the 2022 season. Since then, he has posted ERAs of 4.33 and 4.09 in 2022 with the Miami Marlins and 2024 with the Toronto Blue Jays, respectively. Nance didn't win a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster this season due to a 5.06 ERA in six spring training appearances, so he was again designated for assignment on March 27th, but cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo. With Buffalo, the 37-year-old posted a 4.88 ERA with a 42:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 31 1/3 innings. When Ryan Burr suffered a right shoulder rotator cuff strain, placing him on the 60-day injury list, Nance was recalled on July 11th and has unexpectedly been outstanding. Over 13 innings in 12 appearances, Nance has posted a 1.38 ERA, a 13:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, with batters hitting .130 against him. In his past two seasons, according to Baseball Savant, Nance has favored his curveball, throwing it at least 37.6 percent of the time amongst his four-pitch arsenal, which includes a sinker, slider, and four-seam fastball. A possible contributor to the righty's success this season is that he has stopped throwing the fastball and is favoring his slider over his curveball and sinker, which was his third-most thrown pitch. He's thrown the slider 42.8 percent of the time, with batters hitting .176 off of it and a 16.2 whiff percentage. What's surprising is that although Nance's curveball is thrown the least at 27.8 percent, it's been his most effective pitch. Batters are hitting only .056 off of it, and the pitch has a 36.0 whiff percentage. He's been using it as his strikeout pitch with a 29.4 putaway percentage, compared to 17.6 percent from his slider. The bullpen depth is getting thin, with Yimi García originally on the injury list on July 5th, with a sprained ankle, but is now dealing with ulnar nerve symptoms in his throwing elbow. The Blue Jays hope to get him back by the end of August. Nick Sandlin has been out since July 8th due to right elbow inflammation. He's started playing catch but has no timetable for a return. After the August 14th win, 40 games are remaining this season. The Blue Jays hold a half-game lead over the Detroit Tigers for the No. 1 seed in the AL, and lead the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees by five and six games in the AL East, respectively. The team needs all hands on deck to finish out the season with hopes for the postseason and the World Series that the team and fans have developed as the season has unfolded. That includes Nance continuing his dominant pitching and being a reliable mid-game reliever. View full article

Trey Yesavage has rapidly advanced through the Blue Jays' system in his first pro season. After his promotion to Triple-A Buffalo was reported on August 11, MiLB.com ranked him the organization's new No. 1 prospect. Yesavage excelled in college. In 2023 and 2024 at East Carolina University, the righty posted 2.61 and 2.03 ERAs, with 105:29 and 145:36 strikeout-to-walk ratios. The Blue Jays appear to have gotten a steal with the 20th pick in the 2024 draft; MLB.com had ranked him 11th in the class. The fireballer has been able to bring his strong college performances to the Blue Jays' farm system. In his first professional season, he's pitched at Single A, High A, and Double A. At those three levels combined over 80 2/3 innings, Yesavage has posted a 3.01 ERA and a 134:31 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has held batters to a .160 batting average off him. However, his ERA is heavily skewed by his success in Dunedin and Vancouver, where he had 2.43 and 1.05 ERAs, respectively, over 50 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old struggled a bit more over 30 innings with New Hampshire, posting a 4.50 ERA, although his strikeout-to-walk ratio (46:11) was still excellent, and he held batters to a .198 batting average. Despite the high ERA in Double A, Yesavage showed flashes of massive potential and earned his promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays have done a good job managing the phenom's workload, limiting him to four or five innings at most and 70-75 pitches for all but one game in his first minor league season. He did throw 89 pitches out of the bullpen in his last outing, over five innings, but that may be a sign of the Blue Jays ramping up his workload for his last few outings after he was limited for most of the season. The Blue Jays now find themselves with a tricky decision to make: give Yesavage a September call-up or wait until next season to let him make his MLB debut. The team is leading the AL East by 4.5 games as of August 11. The Boston Red Sox, currently in second place, experienced a surge at the end of July and the beginning of August, posting a 10-3 record before losing their last three games. The Blue Jays also have to hold off the New York Yankees, who trail by six games, though they are 3-7 in their previous 10. The Blue Jays have the eighth toughest schedule over the rest of the season (per Tankathon), with three games against each of the Red Sox and Yankees amongst their 43 remaining games. Boston and New York have the ninth and fourth easiest schedules, respectively. With the pressures of the fight to win the AL East down the stretch, the Blue Jays may feel the need to bring Yesavage up. The decision will be determined by whether they believe they've managed the righty's workload properly and, therefore, if he has innings left in him. This is the time in the season when teams start to weigh the decision of easing their young pitchers' workloads to ensure they stay healthy for the future. Yesavage's highest single-season innings total in college was 93 1/3 in his last year at ECU. The fact that his last appearance at Double A was a bullpen outing could indicate that the Blue Jays are seeing how he performs in a relief role, because if he's called up, that will likely be his job. The starting rotation is set, barring injuries, with José Berríos , Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and Eric Lauer. Shane Bieber was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians ahead of the trade deadline with the hopes he'd be available towards the end of the season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Alek Manoah and Bowden Francis are two more possible starters if they can progress through their respective injury rehabs soon enough. Pitching Yesavage out of the bullpen could be a way to further manage his workload, but the question is, with him 13 innings from his career-high, is it smart for the Jays to extend the 22-year-old and the future of the franchise? He'll likely be competing for a starting role next spring, so it's tempting to give him experience at the highest level. It's a tough decision, but if Yesavage continues to impress in his next couple of outings, and the AL East race gets tighter, the Blue Jays' hands may be forced to bring up their young prospect for some relief. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays made a monster but risky move to bolster their starting rotation by acquiring Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians. Bieber hasn't thrown a pitch in the major leagues all season, as he is recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in April 2024. The right-hander won the AL Cy Young Award in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season and became the 29th pitcher since 1913 to claim the Triple Crown, leading the majors in wins (8), ERA (1.63), and strikeouts (122). This season, he has thrown 11 innings over four rehab starts for three different minor league affiliates. The 30-year-old has been impressive, pitching to a 1.59 ERA and a 22:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and limiting hitters to a .179 batting average. Acquiring the former ace came at a high cost, though. The Blue Jays had to part with Jays Centre's no. 5 prospect, Khal Stephen. Stephen was drafted in the second round in 2024, 59th overall, out of Mississippi State. In that season, he pitched 96 innings, posting a 3.28 ERA with a 107:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and opponents hit .213 off the righty. In Stephen's first minor league season, he has been outstanding. Between Single A, High A, and Double A, he has started 17 games with a 9-1 record, 2.06 ERA, and 99:20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and batters have hit .196 off of him. Plus, he has one save from his only non-start appearance. The 22-year-old was charging through the Blue Jays' minor-league system, and FanGraphs listed him as their 80th overall prospect in their pre-trade deadline rankings. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound pitcher throws a fastball at 92-94 mph and can top out at 96. The movement on his fastball is what has scouts salivating. Stephen has struck out 9.72 batters per nine innings and has found the ability to leave runners stranded on base when they get on, with a 78% left-on-base percentage. Stephen's best offspeed pitch is his mid-80s changeup, but he also has a slider, cutter, and curveball to fill out an impressive pitching arsenal. He slots in as the Guardians' no. 7 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) but is the top pitcher in their system. His slider and curveball will need improvements to build out an MLB-ready arsenal, but if the righty continues to perform at this level, then we can expect to see him in the big leagues within the next two seasons. The Blue Jays needed to add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, and they paid a high price to obtain one. For a rental, the Blue Jays gave up an arm who has the potential to be a future star. General manager Ross Atkins took a massive swing for the fences, so we will have to see how this plays out over the next few years. That said, if the Commissioner's Trophy finds its way to Toronto at the end of the season, then the risky move will have been well worth it. View full article