This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Blue Jays' Eric Lauer: Still getting stretched out
Rotowire
Lauer allowed four runs on four hits and a walk over 3.1 innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out three.
The big blow off the southpaw was a three-run shot by Giancarlo Stanton in the third inning. Lauer built up to 60 pitches (39 strikes), and while he's still expected to begin the season as a long reliever, his path to a spot in the rotation is beginning to look a little clearer. Shane Bieber (forearm) will begin the year on the IL, and Jose Berrios is dealing with elbow inflammation. That could leave Max Scherzer and Lauer in line to be the No. 5 and, if needed, No. 6 starters for the first weeks of the season.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Scratched with elbow inflammation
Rotowire
Berrios was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start against the Phillies on Thursday due to right elbow inflammation, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The injury was revealed on an MRI during the insurance process for the World Baseball Classic, for which Berrios was denied a chance to participate. The right-hander dealt with elbow inflammation down the stretch last year and also pitched through a biceps issue, but the current inflammation is apparently unrelated. Berrios said he's not experiencing any pain, and he'll continue to throw over the next few days as he continues to be evaluated.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Caleb Freeman: Latches on with Jays
Rotowire
Freeman signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Monday.
Freeman spent a brief amount of time with the White Sox last season, allowing two earned runs over 3.1 innings across five appearances in the big leagues. Most of his time was spent in the minors, however, where he posted a 4.44 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across 50.2 frames between Double-A and Triple-A. He'll report to Double-A New Hampshire to begin his tenure with the Jays and isn't likely to serve as more than organizational bullpen depth.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage: Throwing simulated game Wednesday
Rotowire
Yesavage is scheduled for a two-inning simulated game against minor leaguers Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays are slow-playing Yesavage this spring after he had a significant workload jump in 2025. While the young right-hander is still expected to break camp as a member of Toronto's rotation, his workload limitations will carry over into the beginning of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Ricky Tiedemann: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Tiedemann (elbow) resumed a throwing program Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Tiedemann was shut down in late February after feeling soreness following a bullpen session but has improved enough for clearance to throw on flat ground. He will continue to build up his throwing progression as his health allows. Tiedemann missed all of 2025 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Strong start to camp
Rotowire
Gausman gave up three hits over 3.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's split-squad game against the Tigers. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander hasn't given up a run in his first two Grapefruit League starts, posting a 6:1 K:BB over 4.1 frames. Gausman built up to 52 pitches (34 strikes) on Sunday, and while the Blue Jays haven't made an official announcement, he remains to favorite to take the mound Opening Day against the A's.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Four no-hit frames Saturday
Rotowire
Scherzer walked one and struck out one over four scoreless, no-hit innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Making his first appearance of the spring, the 41-year-old Scherzer ended up in something of a pitcher's duel with 22-year-old Andrew Painter in what ended up being a 1-0 win for the Blue Jays. Scherzer faced the tougher lineup of the two, as the Phillies sent out most of their Opening Day starters who weren't participating in the WBC, including Trea Turner, Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto. Scherzer tossed 29 of 40 pitches for strikes, and while it's not yet clear how Toronto will arrange its rotation to begin the season with Jose Berrios healthy and Trey Yesavage likely to handle a limited workload, the future Hall of Famer Scherzer looks like he'll be ready for a significant role right out of the gate.
Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage: Limited workload to start season
Rotowire
Yesavage could face a workload restriction to begin the season, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays have been pitching Yesavage in live batting practice sessions rather than games so far this spring, and there's no timeline for when he will appear in a Grapefruit League contest. Manager John Schneider noted Friday that "we still view him as a starter," but the righty could be limited to 3-to-4 innings per start early in the season. Toronto is being careful with Yesavage's workload after he threw 139.2 innings across all levels in 2025, including the postseason -- a 46.1-inning jump from his final collegiate season in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Ricky Tiedemann: Remains shut down from throwing
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Tiedemann (elbow) has yet to resume a throwing program, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Tiedemann was shut down a couple weeks ago after feeling left elbow soreness following a bullpen session. An MRI cleared the lefty of structural damage, and Schneider noted that Tiedemann could be cleared to resume throwing "hopefully in the next couple of days."
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Shane Bieber: No timetable for mound work
Rotowire
Bieber (forearm) had a heavy flat-ground throwing day Friday, but there remains no timeline for when he will throw from a mound, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that "all reports are good" on Bieber, who is "champing at the bit." It's clear, however, that Toronto will continue to proceed cautiously with the right-hander as he works his way back from last year's forearm fatigue. Bieber has already been ruled out for Opening Day, and given where he's at in his throwing program, a minimum stay on the injured list seems unlikely.
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Plans to ease back on fastball
Rotowire
Hoffman plans to throw his four-seam fastball less often in 2026 while increasing his slider usage, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
Two years ago with the Phillies, Hoffman threw his slider 47.9 percent of the time and his four-seamer 27.4 percent, and the result was a 2.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 33.2 percent strikeout rate over 52.1 innings, as well as a barrel rate allowed in the 99th percentile and a hard-hit rate allowed in the 95th percentile. In 2025, while feeling the weight of a big free-agent contract from the Jays and his first season as a full-time closer, the right-hander tried to attack the zone more often and threw his fastball 37.4 percent of the time, while reducing his slider usage to 29.9 percent. His numbers took a big step backward as a result, highlighted by a first percentile barrel rate allowed and 58th percentile hard-hit rate allowed. A renewed emphasis on his slider, which generated a career-high 47.4 percent whiff rate last season, should help Hoffman regain some of the dominance that slipped away from him.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Joe Mantiply: Inks deal with Toronto
Rotowire
Mantiply signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday that includes an invite to big-league spring training.
The 35-year-old lefty spent the previous six seasons with the Diamondbacks but was released last June. Mantiply then inked a minor-league pact with Toronto in July. He appeared in 14 games out of the bullpen for Triple-A Buffalo, posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 19:0 K:BB across 15.2 innings but didn't appear in any big-league games for the Blue Jays. Mantiply will compete for one of the final spots in the bullpen ahead of Opening Day.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Adam Macko: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Macko to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander delivered two scoreless appearances early in camp but was never a likely bet to make Toronto's Opening Day roster. Macko started in 10 of his 18 appearances at Triple-A last season, finishing with a 5.06 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 65:36 K:BB over 64 innings.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Slugs first spring homer
Rotowire
Barger went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
The 26-year-old got hold of a hanging splitter from minor-leaguer Patrick Halligan for his first homer of the spring. Barger is expected to spend most of his time in right field this season while Kazuma Okamoto handles third base, and defensive stability could allow him to build on his 2025 breakout at the plate, when he slashed .243/.301/.454 in 135 games with 21 home runs.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jays' Cody Ponce: Getting stretched out
Rotowire
Ponce allowed one run on four hits over two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The right-hander built up to 32 pitches (18 strikes) against a Boston lineup that consisted of prospects and big-league depth players. Ponce has looked good so far this spring as he gets ready to pitch in MLB for the first time since 2021, posting a 4:0 K:BB through his first two appearances and three innings.
1:03
0:38
0:25
0:30
1:02
9:31
1:04
0:49
1:04
1:00
1:49
10:43
0:49
1:21
1:13
0:38
0:50
2:50
0:40
9:36
