The Blue Jays’ 2026 season ended with a familiar name delivering one more vintage outing. Max Scherzer, working on short rest, carved through the Cincinnati Reds for seven innings, allowing one run and striking out seven in a 5-1 Toronto win in the finale.
That closed the book on Toronto’s year, but not on the postseason hopes of a few former Blue Jays. With the MLB playoffs set to begin Tuesday, Sept. 29, there are still several ex-Jays worth pulling for - and four of them stand out in particular.
Ty France is one of the easiest names for Blue Jays fans to latch onto. He barely had a footprint in Toronto’s magical 2025 playoff run, logging just four at-bats across two games.
This time around, the 32-year-old has a much bigger stage. France put together a strong season with the San Diego Padres, hitting .295 with an .865 OPS while scoring 59 runs, adding 24 doubles, 21 home runs and 72 RBIs in 133 games.
He also settled into the cleanup spot down the stretch and helped power San Diego into October.
Tim Mayza also rebuilt his value this year. After a career-best 2023 with the Blue Jays, when he posted a 1.52 ERA and struck out 53 in 53.1 innings, his next stretch was far less stable.
But the 34-year-old lefty found his footing with the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming part of the club’s main bullpen group. In 60 relief outings, Mayza posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 26 earned runs with 64 strikeouts over 67.1 innings.
This will be the third time in four years he’s headed into the postseason.
Randal Grichuk is back in the playoff picture too, and Blue Jays fans know exactly why he still draws attention. The longtime fan favorite is playing October baseball for the first time since 2020, when he appeared in two playoff games for Toronto and managed one hit against five strikeouts before the Rays bounced the Jays.
His 2026 season has been a bounce-back in its own right. After the New York Yankees designated him for assignment in late April, he landed with the Chicago White Sox and turned in a big year: a .299 average, a career-high .926 OPS, 33 runs, 21 doubles, 15 home runs and 44 RBIs in 101 games.
If the White Sox are one of the surprise teams in the field, Grichuk gives Toronto fans an easy rooting interest - especially if Chicago can knock off some AL East rivals.
And then there’s Kevin Gausman, the one Blue Jays fans may feel most naturally connected to. Toronto got exactly what it hoped for when it signed him to one of the best contracts in franchise history, and even in a season that wasn’t his sharpest, he still gave value.
The right-hander finished with a 9-12 record, a 4.51 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across 32 starts split between the Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs. Gausman has long carried the reputation of being a big-game pitcher, and now he gets another shot at his first championship.
He’ll also have a chance to help knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers, which would surely go over well with Blue Jays fans.
In Other News...
Blue Jays May Have Found A Familiar Arm For A Big Need
Josh Winckowskis path back to the Blue Jays has taken some twists, but the fit is easy to see. The right-hander, who is recovering from elbow surgery, signed a two-year minor-league deal with Toronto in December 2025 and has spent 2026 working through rehab assignments with encouraging results. For a club that can always use more pitching depth, it is the kind of low-profile move that could matter more later than it does now.
Winckowski is hardly a stranger to Torontos system, and his journey through the majors has already included time with the Red Sox as well as a series of trades before this return. What makes the situation worth watching is where it could lead next: after a string of strong rehab appearances, he is expected to be in the mix for a starting role with the Blue Jays in 2027, giving the organization a possible internal answer to one of its bigger needs. [Read more 🡒]
Gabriel Moreno Just Reopened A Trade Debate Blue Jays Fans Hate
The Gabriel Moreno trade has always been one of those moves Blue Jays fans have filed under painful but understandable, and his latest achievement only makes the argument more complicated. Moreno won the National League batting title in 2026 with a .311 average, becoming the first player in Diamondbacks history to claim a batting crown and giving Arizona a centerpiece bat after Toronto moved him and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for Daulton Varsho.
Varsho did plenty in Toronto, too, earning a Gold Glove and helping push the Blue Jays to the 2025 World Series before being dealt to Houston for Spencer Arrighetti. But Morenos breakout leaves the original swap looking even harder to sort out, especially for a fan base that still wonders whether the Blue Jays gave up too much of a young catcher with star-level upside. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Gave Max Scherzer A Farewell Message Fans Will Love
The Blue Jays used their regular-season finale against the Reds to tip their cap to two veterans, honoring George Springer and Max Scherzer in a game that felt as much like a sendoff as a finish. Scherzer, working on short rest, gave Toronto exactly the kind of outing the club has long associated with him, grinding through 6.2 innings and 114 pitches while helping the Blue Jays close out a 5-1 win.
For a team that has spent plenty of time around Scherzer over the years, the night came with a clear appreciation for what he has meant on the mound. Reds manager Terry Francona praised the right-handers performance and competitive edge, and Blue Jays pitching coach John Schneider spoke with admiration for Scherzers career, a fitting backdrop for a finale that looked like the kind of farewell fans would want to remember. [Read more 🡒]