Bryan Jaeger

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been outstanding this postseason, allowing no more than one earned run in three of his four outings. In his last two, Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series, he threw a one-run complete game both times, with a combined total of just one walk and one home run allowed. Against Milwaukee, he allowed three hits and struck out seven; against Toronto, he allowed four hits and struck out eight. Yamamoto had a 2.49 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in the regular season. So, if the Blue Jays want to win their first World Series since 1993 tonight, they must solve a problem few teams have figured out. This team has persevered despite injuries, slumps, and inexperienced players all season, so we know the Jays have the determination to give Yamamoto a challenging game. To get Yamamoto out early, the Blue Jays should focus on extending at-bats and working deep into counts. In Game 2, Yamamoto retired his last 20 hitters in a row by mixing pitches and staying efficient. Notably, Blue Jays hitters reached base early in the first inning but failed to capitalize, striking out twice and lining out to end the frame. Yamamoto relied on his splitter and curveball, using the curve to finish four of eight strikeouts and the splitter for six of 17 whiffs. If the Jays are patient and selective, that may cause him to throw more pitches and make some mistakes. Game 2 was Yamamoto's first career start versus Toronto. Facing a team for a second time, especially days later, is difficult for any pitcher. The Blue Jays should try to show a little more discipline at the plate, as their 8.3% walk rate in the playoffs is on the lower end. With the World Series at stake, manager Dave Roberts may go to his bullpen more quickly if the Blue Jays can get to Yamamoto and score early. In Game 5, the Blue Jays opened with consecutive home runs by Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (the first time in World Series history that has happened to start a game). Despite Snell's 1.17 home ERA, Toronto managed five runs against him, earning four walks and getting six hits. A few runs may be all the Blue Jays need to win against Yamamoto because the Dodgers' offense has struggled. In their three losses in the series, they scored a combined seven runs (four were in Game 1). The Dodgers attempted to shake up their lineup in Game 5 by replacing struggling Andy Pages, dropping Mookie Betts from the two-hole to the three, and moving Will Smith up to second. That move led to only four hits and 15 strikeouts (everyone in the lineup struck out at least once). For the Blue Jays to win the Commissioner's Trophy and avoid a Game 7, they must focus on breaking through against Yamamoto early and then attacking a vulnerable Dodgers bullpen. While Yamamoto has dominated all year, the Blue Jays' resilience and offensive discipline could be the key to finally solving one of baseball's toughest challenges — and clinching a historic championship. View full article

Chris Bassitt has had an up-and-down season. After producing a 2.62 ERA through April, he struggled to a 5.25 ERA in May and June. From July onward, he posted a 3.55 ERA in 76 innings. However, his momentum was halted on September 20, when a lower back injury placed him on the 15-day IL, causing him to miss the end of the regular season and the ALDS. Upon returning for the ALCS, Bassitt shifted into a relief role, in which he has excelled. He delivered 2 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings against the Mariners and has since become a go-to reliever in the World Series, throwing four scoreless innings across three games against the Dodgers, with just one hit allowed and six strikeouts. His performance is all the more impressive considering he is reportedly pitching through a minor "cut/blister" (per Sportnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith). Not only has Bassitt seen great results, but his velocity has also notably increased. While he averaged around 91.5 mph on both his four-seam fastball and sinker during the regular season, he has averaged around 93 mph on both pitches in the playoffs. It was especially remarkable to see him largely maintain his velocity in Game 4 — the first time in his career he has pitched two days in a row. Bassitt's unexpected dominance out of the bullpen, despite limited prior experience in relief, positions him as a postseason revelation. This performance should also boost his appeal as a free agent, showing teams his versatility and resilience in high-pressure spots. He will be a popular name this offseason for any pitching-needy teams and will likely earn a sizeable contract despite turning 37 before spring training. Bassitt has made his mark this postseason and looks set to be a key relief option for the remainder of the series. As manager John Schneider considers his bullpen plan for the two or three remaining games, Louis Varland — who led the team in appearances in the ALDS and the ALCS, throwing 11 innings across the two series — may now have competition, with Bassitt emerging as another arm for high-leverage situations. View full article

Eugenio Suárez had been quiet this series, but he turned that around and had a career game on Friday night. The third baseman was 4-for-16 in the first four games with only one run knocked in. In Game 5, he hit a solo home run in the second inning, his first since Game 3 of the ALDS, to give the Mariners an early 1-0 lead. The Blue Jays would claw back and take a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth, where everything fell apart. Momentum shifted as the Mariners scored five runs off a Cal Raleigh solo moonshot followed by Suárez's second home run of the game — this one a soul-crushing grand slam off Seranthony Domínguez. The Mariners now hold a 3-2 series lead with the series headed back to Toronto for Games 6 and 7, and a return home is less comforting for fans than they might have hoped. The Toronto Blue Jays were a force at home during the regular season, with a 54-27 record. However, the Mariners took both Games 1 and 2 at the Rogers Centre in convincing fashion. The scores were 3-1 and 10-3, as the Blue Jays' offense struggled against the Mariners' pitching staff. In Game 1, Bryce Miller gave up a first-pitch homer to George Springer but then settled in, going six innings with two hits, one run, three walks, and three strikeouts. In Game 2, although the Blue Jays knocked Logan Gilbert out after three innings and three earned runs, those were their only runs, as the Mariners' bullpen delivered six scoreless innings. Following their struggles at home, the Blue Jays' offense came alive at T-Mobile Park, as they won Games 3 and 4 by scores of 13-4 and 8-2, respectively. Trey Yesavage has been named the starter for Game 6 against Gilbert. Yesavage struggled to control his splitter in Game 2, and the Mariners' discipline didn't help. They followed the "if it's low, let it go" mentality and crushed Yesavage's mistakes. That included Julio Rodriguez hitting a first-inning three-run home run. Yesavage will have a short leash tonight. We may see Chris Bassitt follow Yesavage if the rookie can't go at least five innings and turn the game over to the higher-leverage arms in the bullpen. After being left off the ALDS roster due to a lingering lower back injury, Bassist threw 1 2/3 hitless innings in Game 2 with two strikeouts. However, Eric Lauer has thrown only one inning in the series, which came in Game 2. So, either could be a good long-relief option if Yesavage struggles early. By and large, the Mariners have hit the Blue Jays' bullpen well. Bassitt, Lauer, and Jeff Hoffman are the only relievers who have yet to allow an earned run in the series. The bullpen has also allowed six home runs and 10 walks. Yariel Rodríguez has only retired three batters but gave up two home runs and walked three in two appearances, in Games 2 and 3. If the Blue Jays' offense can get to Gilbert early, they will need to attack Seattle's relievers as they did in Games 3 and 4, when they scored 10 runs and hit three home runs. However, in their three losses, the Blue Jays only managed one run in 14 bullpen innings, indicating the challenge ahead. The good news is that if the Blue Jays can win Game 6 tonight, they'll face George Kirby tomorrow, whom they scored eight runs against over four innings in Game 3. In that case, Toronto would throw Shane Bieber in Game 7. He was phenomenal in Game 3, going six innings with four hits, two earned runs (off a Rodríguez two-run first-inning home run), and eight strikeouts. The Blue Jays need to figure out a way to reach Game 7, where the pieces are laid out more in their favor. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays ended the season as AL East champions for the first time since 2015, securing the league's top seed. They earned a bye through the Wild Card round and await either the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Success required contributions from many, but some hitters truly stood out. Here's an overview of this year's key offensive performers. Honorable Mentions Alejandro Kirk - .282/.348/.421 with 15 home runs, 45 runs, 76 RBIs, and 111 wRC+ Kirk had a career season in 2025, setting personal highs in home runs and RBIs. He played in 130 games and was one of the most consistent catchers both in the field and at the plate, tying his career high fWAR (4.3). In the final regular-season game, he contributed significantly to clinching the AL East, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs. Kirk was consistent at the plate all season long. With men in scoring position, he had 145 plate appearances, hitting .311/.379/.410 with a .789 OPS and a 119 wRC+, producing 54 RBIs. Kirk has shown why he deserved the extension he signed in March. Addison Barger - .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 61 runs, 74 RBIs, and 104 wRC+ Barger's second MLB season was a roller coaster. His production fluctuated by month, but he struggled in the second half, slashing .218/.280/.374 with a .655 OPS and an 81 wRC+. Despite these challenges, Barger was depended on consistently, as early injuries to Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander required the 25-year-old to blossom sooner than expected. The future is bright for Barger, but more consistent production throughout the season will be needed. Daulton Varsho - .238/.284/.548 with 20 home runs, 43 runs, 55 RBIs, and a 123 wRC+ Varsho is on the honorable mention list because of how amazing this season could have been if he hadn't had injury issues. He had seven fewer home runs than his career high (27) in 2022, despite having 283 fewer plate appearances. If Varsho could have played a full season, then we likely would have seen a massive campaign from the 29-year-old. He started the year on the injury list, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He then returned on April 29 before landing back on the injured list on May 31 with a hamstring injury. After missing two months, he returned on August 1. Following his return, he slashed .256/.310/.551 with 12 home runs, 29 runs, 35 knocked in, an .861 OPS, and a 134 wRC+. Varsho has one year of arbitration left before free agency, but other contracts may be a higher priority for the Blue Jays this offseason. #3 Bo Bichette - .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, 78 runs, 94 RBIs, and a 134 wRC+ Bichette has been the focus of extension talks throughout the season. Despite speculation about his future, the shortstop delivered one of his most productive years, setting a career high in doubles (44) and almost matching his RBI total from 2021 (94). His home run power dipped, but he improved at getting on base. His batting average tied the career high he set in his rookie campaign (2019), while his on-base percentage slightly trailed his OBP from the same season (.358). Bichette has been out since suffering a knee sprain on September 6. Before the AL East clinching win, manager John Schneider said the shortstop was hitting in the cage and doing soft toss and tee work, but no timetable has been given. It's possible he returns as a designated hitter to mitigate the strain on his knee, which could allow for a stronger infield defense, whether it's Ernie Clement or Andrés Giménez playing shortstop. #2 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - .292/.381/.467, with 23 home runs, 96 runs, 84 RBIs, and a 137 wRC+ Guerrero faced questions about his contract status early in the season, which may have contributed to his slow start at the plate. He signed a significant extension (14 years, $500 million) on April 7, but he didn't hit his first home run until his 18th game on April 16. The face of the franchise produced his lowest home run and RBI numbers since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, but recorded his second-most walks and fewest strikeouts. He also performed well with runners in scoring position, slashing .307/.429/.486 with a .915 OPS, 149 wRC+, and driving in 58 runs. Only four of his home runs came in these situations. The outlook remains bright for Guerrero and the Blue Jays. #1 George Springer - .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs, 106 runs, 84 RBIs, and a 166 wRC+ The biggest surprise this season came from Springer. While his offensive production had been declining for years, the 36-year-old set career highs in batting average and wRC+. He also had his best home run, RBI, and fWAR (5.2) numbers since his 2019 Silver Slugger season with the Houston Astros. Springer peaked during the second half as the Blue Jays competed for the AL East title, slashing .369/.454/.667 with a 1.121 OPS and 210 wRC+. Springer also set two franchise records this season. On September 2, he hit his 23rd leadoff home run over his five seasons with the Blue Jays, passing Devon White's 22 that he hit over five seasons (1991-1995). Then on September 25, Springer hit his 31st home run of the season, which broke a franchise single-season record for home runs by a player 35 or older. This record was previously held by Blue Jays' legend Joe Carter, who hit 30 home runs in 1996 in his age-36 season. Springer is under contract through 2026, but given his age, he may not be a long-term option. Next season's production will determine if he returns in 2027 on a short-term contract or becomes a free agent. View full article

Blue Jays fans were excited about the trade acquisition of Louis Varland. He brought a 2.02 ERA over 49 innings, 17 holds, and a 47:21 strikeout-to-walk ratio to Toronto's bullpen. The 27-year-old started his Jays tenure strong, allowing one earned run and only four hits over his first six outings. However, a rough mid-August stretch has left the team with many questions about their once-hyped trade acquisition as the postseason approaches. Starting August 15, Varland went six straight outings with at least one earned run allowed, and his September hasn't been much better. Through 8 2/3 innings, the righty has a 5.19 ERA, a 9:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and has allowed batters to hit .281 off of him. These struggles have pushed him further down the bullpen depth chart with the Blue Jays fighting to hold onto their AL East lead. He did not pitch from September 16-22, which is highly unusual for a relief pitcher, as they are usually utilized every couple of games. He finally pitched 1 1/3 innings on September 23, but the Blue Jays were down three runs when Varland entered. In an MLB.com interview at the end of August, manager John Schneider addressed Varland's struggles. "He has the ability to [succeed], and he's done that before. The last thing you want when you acquire a guy is to go, 'Why aren't you doing what you did before you got here?' It comes down to where he's throwing his fastball. Hitters are geared to hit velocity. You have to put it in the right spot." At the time, Schneider was still anticipating gearing Varland up for high-leverage situations in the postseason. So, Varland's lack of usage in the past two weeks is surprising. All the more surprising is the news that Varland will open a bullpen game this evening. The Blue Jays bullpen has had a roller coaster of a season, although some relievers have seen an improved September, and that's part of the reason Varland hasn't been needed as often. Braydon Fisher has been a major unexpected producer. He's bounced between Triple-A Buffalo and Toronto a few times this season, but the rookie has excelled since being recalled on September 5. Fisher had a 3.03 ERA through August, although that number was heavily skewed by a June in which he threw 13 1/3 innings and allowed zero earned runs. Since his recall, he's posted a 0.93 ERA and is holding batters to a .100 batting average against him. The only flaw in the righty's game has been the six walks he's given up in the month. Fisher has made a case for being on the postseason roster, which means Varland's spot could be determined by how the Blue Jays handle José Berríos, Trey Yesavage and Eric Lauer. Berríos and Lauer have solid full-season numbers, but each has had a rough second half. Berríos pitched to a 3.75 ERA, a 97:41 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and held batters to a .238 batting average in the first half. Included in this was a 1.97 ERA in June. However, the 31-year-old has struggled mightily since July, posting a 5.15 ERA in the second half of the season. The veteran starter has since been relegated to the bullpen, despite his displeasure with the move, saying, "Honestly, I don't feel happy to talk about it" (per Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling). Berríos had not pitched since September 16 before he took the mound yesterday and gave up three runs in two frames of relief. All of this may be a sign that he won't make the postseason roster. In addition, with the emergence of Yesavage, Berríos may become an offseason trade candidate. Lauer had a stellar first half, earning a starting role due to Bowden Francis's injury. In this span, the lefty posted a 2.78 ERA, a 58:16 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and held batters to a .204 batting average. Since then, Lauer has posted a 3.97 ERA. His 41:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio is still impressive, but his batting average against has risen to .269. His struggles were particularly pronounced in August (5.30 ERA in four starts) before he moved to the bullpen in September. He has since produced a 4.70 ERA but an 8:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in seven appearances. Whether or not Lauer makes the postseason roster will likely depend on the number of left-handed batters Toronto's opponent has. If the opposition only has a couple of lefties or fewer, then Brendon Little may be the only left-handed pitcher to make the roster. Yesavage made his highly anticipated debut on September 15 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He struck out nine and allowed one earned run on three hits. His second outing wasn't as stellar. Against the Kansas City Royals, the rookie allowed four earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks. He has one last chance to impress, as he is projected to throw on Saturday against the Rays again. Fellow Jays Centre writer Jesse Burrill recently predicted that Varland would make the postseason roster, but Berríos, Yesavage, and Lauer have each presented a strong case at times throughout the season. It's going to be a tough decision for the Blue Jays to make regarding the final bullpen spot, only further complicated by the fact that Yesavage could earn a starting role, bumping Max Scherzer or Chris Bassitt to the bullpen or off the roster. If Varland does make the postseason roster, don't expect any appearances in tight situations. He'll likely only be seen if there's a few runs difference between the teams. View full article

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