Another week, another series, and this one opens with four games against the Rays. The pitching slate is set, and it starts Monday with Nick Martinez (8-2, 2.65) against Dylan Cease (6-4, 2.56).
Tuesday brings Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 3.26) opposite Kevin Gausman (4-8, 4.33). On Wednesday, Griffin Jax (5-7, 4.08) goes for Tampa Bay, while the Jays are still sorting out whether Spencer Myles will be used as a starter or as a bulk arm. Then Thursday wraps with Ian Seymour (6-2, 4.79) facing Shane Bieber (1-1, 5.70).
There’s also more rehab movement on the pitching side. Max Scherzer is slated to start for the Bisons on Wednesday, and the expectation is that he’ll need one more rehab outing after that. If he can turn in a strong start for the Jays after that and then get traded the next day, that would be the ideal outcome, according to the note.
Yimi Garcia is set to begin a rehab assignment this week, with the plan calling for two to three appearances before a decision is made on a call-up, assuming there isn’t another setback. Jesus Sanchez has already been running the bases and is expected to do that again tomorrow before moving on to a rehab assignment. If he can make it back to the majors, there’s at least a chance to boost his trade value.
John’s message was blunt: “We gotta start winning.” No Farrelling kidding. But even if the offense suddenly wakes up, the starting pitching still doesn’t look deep enough to carry the kind of run the team needs.
For now, Kevin Gausman feels like the clearest trade-value candidate. Scherzer, despite the rehab chatter, is not expected to have trade value. Bieber could create some if he strings together a couple of good starts.
Beyond that, the focus shifts to bullpen arms. Tyler Rogers is one name that would make sense for a contender, though with two or three years left on his contract, the price would be steep. Maybe Springer, too.
Unless the Jays sweep the Rays, this series may help sort out who actually has value at the deadline. Tonight’s lineups are out, with Straw in against a right-hander.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Suddenly Linked To The Kind Of Deadline Swing Fans Fear
The Blue Jays are being mentioned in a conversation that instantly gets attention at this time of year, with ESPNs Jeff Passan reporting Toronto is at least weighing a major infield swing. The idea carries a familiar front-office thread too, since Ross Atkins knows Francisco Lindor from their Cleveland days, and any pursuit of a player with that kind of profile would come with the sort of financial and roster complications that can reshape a deadline plan in a hurry.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious: if the club is going to make a bold push, it would be for a name that changes the conversation around the lineup and the infield. But this is also the kind of deal that forces real sacrifice, and the Blue Jays would have to decide how far they are willing to go to chase a star while keeping the rest of the roster intact. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Bichette Just Added More Intrigue To Blue Jays Deadline Buzz
Bo Bichettes situation has become one of the more interesting subplots as the Mets move toward selling at the MLB trade deadline. The infielder is in the middle of a three-year deal with opt-outs after each season, and the combination of his contract structure and uneven performance has left the market trying to sort out what kind of value he really carries right now.
For the Blue Jays, it is the kind of name that naturally pulls attention back home, even without anything close to a resolution. Bichettes future is still unsettled, the Mets have not made any definitive move, and teams weighing a run at him are left to judge both the money and the uncertainty that come with it. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Face A Deadline Decision That Could Push Out A Fan Favorite
With the trade deadline closing in, the Blue Jays are in that awkward middle ground where the standings do not point cleanly toward a push or a teardown. At 46-53, Toronto has roster questions everywhere, and the next few weeks could determine whether the front office leans into the present, starts thinking more about next year, or settles somewhere in between.
Davis Schneider is one of the more interesting pieces caught in the squeeze. The versatile player who made such a memorable debut in 2023 has struggled badly at the plate this season, and with regular roles already spoken for by Daulton Varsho, George Springer and Andres Gimenez, there are fewer easy paths to steady at-bats. Add in the possibility of injured players returning and deadline moves changing the mix, and Schneiders place on the roster suddenly feels a lot less secure than it did not long ago. [Read more 🡒]