Mar 20, 2026
3 min read
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is third on the injured list with Jose Berrios and Shane Bieber.
Dunedin, Fla.— There's hardly any room for another sore arm or barking shoulder.Pitching depth, which appears to be the Toronto Blue Jays' biggest strength, remains thin, which is changing the club's roster plans.
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) has become the third Blue Jays player to go on the injured list to start the season, joining José Berríos (knee) and Shane Bieber (wrist).This summer's setbacks have turned one of Toronto's strengths into the first hot spot and will affect the Jays' work leading up to Opening Day.
Toronto's rotation solution, at least to start the season, looks pretty simple.With Yesaviz out, Eric Lauer, who saved the home team last season and wants the starting job in the spring, should return to the rotation.Manager John Schneider did not confirm rotation rights for the lefty Thursday, but Lauer appears to have gone from the eighth starter to the top five in a matter of weeks.
"They have a good chance," Snyder said."I just want to know who it is."
Even with Lauer ready to start, there is still increased pressure on Toronto's current starting lineup — Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer, Cody Ponce and Lauer — to perform and stay healthy.
They seem to be able to do the job.Gausman and Cease are two reliable guarantees in the rotation, or at least as close as possible.Gausman and Cease have made at least 31 starts over the last five years.Additionally, Scherzer allowed just two hits in his first 8 2/3 innings of the spring, Lauer had nearly 70 pitches in his minor league outing, and Ponce pitched a shutout inning.5 ⅔ against other New York Yankees lineups.
That's why you build everyone you have, Schneider said, "in that circle."
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Berrios' unexpected MRI and Yesvage's lingering issues have slowed Toronto's start, but the Jays have enough to survive.However, they have stopped short of proven contingency plans.If one of those five players is injured in the final days of spring or during their first few starts, the Jays will turn to a minor league without backup.Toronto scouts are hopeful that Grant Rogers and CJ Van Eyck can pitch in MLB innings this year, but neither has a flawless minor league record.Lazaro Estrada malitere oge gara aga, mana nwere 5.73 ERA na Triple A yana 8.59 ERA na 7 1/3 MLB innings.No rookie impact, like Yesvez last year, come 2026. Hopefully, at least not soon.
If the Jays can survive the first few weeks, Berrios and Yesavage could return to restore that reliable depth.Schneider said Thursday that the pair are expected to continue throwing, meaning they could be ready early in the season.Bieber, who is still throwing on the slopes, could be another pin in May or June.Still, recovering from an arm injury isn't always smooth sailing for starting a boat, and the best situation leaves a few weeks of fear to start the year.
The bullpen is where Toronto's starting injuries have had the most consequences.
There are four locks: Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, Louis Warland and Brandon Jr.After that, Tommy Nance is out of options, and Braydon Fisher and Mason Fluhart are clearly capable and could find work, though either can be picked up if needed.If all six start the bullpen, Laver will need a long save to move into the rotation.
"You're looking for some length," Schneider said of bullpen priorities."There are some guys we're looking to get a lot of innings."
Estrada, who has thrown about 40 pitches in starts and relief in six spring games, appears to be a potential candidate for that role.Connor Siebold, Jesse Hahn and Josh Fleming have also logged multiple innings this spring, with Siebold flashing a quick pitch this month.
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Yesavage's injury could also give Angel Basstardo a fifth draft option with an increased chance to stick with the Jays.The 23-year-old, who will return to the Boston Red Sox if he doesn't crack Toronto's Opening Day roster, has made at least four of his last four appearances in the last four spring games.Much with change.If Bastard could be a multi-weapon, even at low power, his usefulness in the bullpen would increase dramatically.
The Jays can also opt for a Fisher or Fluharty with traditional dishes such as Bastardo and Estrada.Lauer, when he was put in the bullpen, was designed to be the main backstop for any holiday early this season.It's not a great role, but it's one thing to be able to save the bullpen early in the year before it starts, and that's what the Jays will have to change now.
