The Jays are on a bullpen day again, and that’s the kind of thing that can make a fan squint a little. Yes, they’ve handled these games well enough, but the tradeoff is hard to ignore: if you burn through almost the whole relief corps on Tuesday, what does that leave you for the next couple of days? That’s the part that always gets my attention.
Spencer Arrighetti is slated to pitch Friday, Dylan Cease on Saturday, and Jose Soriano on Sunday, according to the Jays. On the injury front, Anthony Santander won’t play tonight for the Bisons because of back stiffness. There had been chatter that he might be up with the Jays this week, but that idea looks even less likely now.
Voting has opened for the Roberto Clemente Award, and George Springer is among the players listed. His case includes the George Springer Bowling Benefit in Toronto, which he has hosted since 2023 to raise money and awareness for Jays Care Foundation and the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY).
The bio says the event has brought in more than $500,000 over four years and has helped support programs for youth who stutter and children in Jays Care programming across Canada. It also notes that Springer has lived with a stutter since childhood and has used his experience to advocate for others through SAY, public appearances, speaking engagements, mentorship, and fundraising.
There was also minor league recognition for the Dunedin Jays. The Florida State League announced its All-Stars today, and shortstop Jojo Parker and second baseman Demeury Pena both made the cut.
Parker hit .258/.388/.471 with 13 home runs and 22 stolen bases, while Pena posted .322/.39. /.389 with one home run and 21 steals.
In Other News...
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Is Now At Center Of Torontos Biggest Problem
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has always been the kind of bat the Blue Jays could build around, which is why his 2026 slide has landed with so much force. The six-time All-Star first baseman is not producing at the level Toronto has come to expect, and the drop from his 2025 numbers has been sharp enough to change the way the lineup looks and feels around him.
For a club whose offense has gone from fourth to last in runs per game, Guerreros reduced power has become more than a slow start or an isolated slump. His current OPS sits third on the team despite his place among the highest-paid players, which puts Toronto in an awkward spot as it tries to figure out whether the lineup needs a spark, a reset, or something more significant from the player it was supposed to revolve around. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Suddenly Face A Costly Problem In The Wild Card Race
The Blue Jays left Detroit with one of those losses that can linger well beyond a single night. Toronto had chances early, put pressure on the Tigers in key spots and still came up empty, a missed opportunity in a crowded Wild Card race where every game seems to carry a little more weight. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came to the plate with runners on base more than once, but the big hit never arrived, and the offense could not turn those openings into the kind of cushion this team needed.
Torontos problem was not limited to the lineup, either. With key relievers unavailable, the margin for error shrank even further once the game tightened, and the Blue Jays had to navigate it without some of the bullpen options they would normally lean on in a late-season push. In a race this tight, nights like this can add up quickly, especially when a club gets traffic on the bases and still walks away with nothing to show for it. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Waste Another Strong Night In A Brutal Late Collapse
Jos Soriano gave the Blue Jays exactly what they needed for most of the night, working six strong innings and putting Toronto in position to leave with a win. For a while, it looked like another straightforward case of solid pitching carrying a team that has been trying to find steadier footing, and the Blue Jays had enough going to keep the game tight into the later innings.
Instead, the Tigers chipped away when it mattered most, with Kazuma Okamotos seventh-inning home run starting the turn and the finish coming apart in painful fashion. A defensive misplay in the ninth inning opened the door for the winning run, turning what had been a promising night into a 6-5 loss and another reminder that Toronto is still giving games away late. [Read more 🡒]