The Wild Card round has already knocked out four clubs, but plenty of former Blue Jays are still chasing October hardware.
The Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies were the first teams sent home in the 2026 MLB Playoffs, and that ended the run for a few ex-Toronto names trying to keep their postseason stories alive. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, now with the Red Sox, won’t get a shot at another redemption chapter after last year’s World Series moment in Game 7. Kevin Gausman also saw his postseason end early when the Cubs were bounced in Game 2 by the San Diego Padres.
Even with those exits, 12 former Blue Jays are still standing as the Division Series begins today, Oct. 3.
The New York Yankees still have two ex-Jays on the roster in P Ryan Yarbrough and C Ali Sánchez, though neither saw action in the Wild Card sweep of the Red Sox. New York rolled through Boston by scores of 9-0 and 9-2, and both players should have a better chance to get into the mix when the Yankees move on to face the Tampa Bay Rays.
That Rays-Yankees matchup brings Steven Matz back into the picture. Tampa Bay earned a first-round bye as AL East champs, and Matz heads into the ALDS after spending much of the season as a swingman. He made 11 starts among his 36 appearances, but after some early trouble in the rotation, the 35-year-old was used mostly out of the bullpen down the stretch.
Chicago’s ex-Blue Jays group was busy in the sweep of Houston. Anthony Kay threw 0.2 scoreless innings and allowed one walk, while Jordan Hicks appeared in both games and kept the Astros off the board over three innings, striking out four.
Randal Grichuk also chipped in, entering as a pinch hitter in Game 1 and going 2-for-3 in the White Sox’s 6-3 win. Trevor Richards wasn’t on the AL Wild Card roster, but he could still come back into the picture for the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians.
In the National League, Rowdy Tellez is still alive with the Atlanta Braves after they knocked off the Phillies in three games. Tellez, a former Blue Jays fan favorite, spent most of the 2026 season with Gwinnett, Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate, and he is likely to remain a bench option when the Braves take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Padres also move on with two former Toronto players in the fold. Robbie Ray wasn’t used in the sweep of the Cubs after strong outings from Michael King and Nick Pivetta, but he should be in the conversation once San Diego meets the Milwaukee Brewers. Ty France, meanwhile, was productive against Chicago, going 4-for-8 with two doubles and two runs scored while staying in the middle of the Padres’ order.
The Dodgers, who had a bye, are waiting to open their postseason against the Braves, and that means Teoscar Hernández and Brock Stewart will get their first playoff action of the year when Game 1 starts at 4:00 p.m. (EST).
Stewart has been a dependable arm when healthy, putting up a 2.70 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 25 strikeouts in 26.2 innings, and he should stay important in the bullpen. Hernández had a down year by his standards in 2026, but he still hit .267 with a .759 OPS, 16 home runs and 64 RBIs in 125 games.
He has also delivered in previous playoff runs and will be aiming for his third World Series ring in three years.
In Other News...
Ty France Just Relived A Playoff Break That Will Sting Blue Jays Fans
Ty France got a fresh dose of postseason frustration in Game 1 of the NLDS against Milwaukee, when what looked like a potential go-ahead homer was wiped away after the ball hit the roof at American Family Field and was caught. The play was bizarre enough on its own, and it ended up folding into a 3-2 loss for the Padres, the kind of one-run October game where every odd bounce feels magnified.
Blue Jays fans may remember France for an earlier playoff break of their own, back when he was in Toronto and a ball got stuck under the wall at Rogers Centre, taking away what could have been an inside-the-park home run in a critical game. For a player who has now lived through more than one strange postseason twist, it is another reminder of how thin the margin can be in October and how quickly a big swing can turn into a story fans never quite forget. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Catching Prospect Is Giving Fans A Reason To Watch Arizona
The Blue Jays sent a familiar group of prospects to the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox, and catcher Aaron Parker wasted little time giving the organization something to follow. Parker, who has put together steady production even while working through injury setbacks, opened with a strong showing and shared the field with former teammate Arjun Nimmala, now in the Angels system, as both players looked comfortable in a setting built for development.
Parker went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in a recent game, a line that fits the kind of progress Toronto has been hoping to see from him. Nimmala also chipped in with a hit and an RBI, which only adds another layer of intrigue for Blue Jays fans keeping tabs on the AFL, where the early returns suggest Mesa could be worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Still Face One Big Outfield Question After Batemans Rise
Brett Batemans first run with the Blue Jays in 2026 gave the club something it has been looking for in the outfield: a young player who can get on base and create some havoc with his speed, even in limited at-bats. Ross Atkins has already publicly highlighted Batemans smooth transition to the majors, but he also made clear that the organization has to be careful about how much it asks of a player still learning on the job.
Thats why Toronto is still weighing an outside addition in the outfield, even with Batemans rise changing the conversation. The Jays want to bolster the lineup and give the rookie some support rather than hand him the entire burden, which is why established names such as Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena have come up as possible fits. For a team trying to sharpen its offense, the question is no longer whether Bateman belongs, but who can help make his emergence easier to absorb. [Read more 🡒]