Griff and Mal also discuss George Springer’s role moving forward, whether Toronto needs another high-leverage bullpen arm, Yimi Garcia’s potential return, the catching situation among Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman, and Brandon Valenzuela and what the Blue Jays need to do to stay in the playoff race.

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MLB DIVISION RANKINGS (through May 28): Overall the National League is a surprising 33 games above the break-even mark in inter-league play. 1-NL Central + 26 (to .500) … 2-AL East +12 … 3-NL East +7 … 4-NL West +1 … 5-AL Central -18 … 6-AL West -28.

BLUE JAYS: Through the first 57 games, the Jays have been forced to use 24 pitchers, including catcher Tyler Heineman twice and including a dozen of those Jays hurlers who were not part of the ’25 AL Championship.

The Jays need to solve some fundamental issues that have prevented them from winning games against lower-payroll teams, one that they were expected to beat. In building this Jays roster, the front office has had a recent history of focusing on run-prevention, combining pitchers that pound the strike zone and defenders who minimizes the damage on balls in play. But the best laid plans…

The first third of the season has seen the Jays in a perplexing no-man’s-land of unable to defend small-ball and rein in a lesser opponent’s speed game, while, at the same time, unable to match the traditional power-game of the big-boy opponents. The Jays offence needs to step it up in terms of power, extra-base hits and clutch, while the defence needs to return to fundamentals. Those mistakes don’t show up on the stat sheet.

Consider outfielder Yohendick Pinango has zero errors on his record, but every fan remembers the double at Yankee Stadium that dropped on the foul line as three players stood by. Fresh, also, are the memories vs. the Marlins, first time as he gave way to Andres Gimenez then realized it was his ball, dove feet first and kicked an RBI double to centre field and finally a line drive in that same inning where his route to the ball seemed inspired by a Picasso sketch book. Clearly, stats don’t tell the entire story in baseball.

With all that in mind, the Jays can be perceived as underachievers and, even though there are 13 players currently on the major-league IL, it can be argued that every team has injuries with which to deal. The Jays list of walking wounded shows a total missing individual payroll, at the moment, of just under $100-million, including six starting pitchers – Dylan Cease, Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, Cody Ponce and Bowden Francis.

Here are some injury updates: Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb) was with the team on the recent homestand. He has caught bullpens and is now swinging the bat vs. live pitching in Florida. They will be better when he returns, likely with Brandon Valenzuela as backup.

Shane Bieber (forearm fatigue, two years removed from Tommy John) threw two innings in a Florida Complex League game on Monday and will throw three innings next time. He will continue to ramp up and is at least a month away.

Max Scherzer (forearm and ankle) threw 30 pitches vs. live hitting, the equivalent of two innings, on the field at Rogers Centre on Wednesday morning. He continues to remain with the team on the road as unofficial advisor to younger players in the dugout during games. He is chomping at the bit to return to the mound. At 55 innings, he receives a $1M bonus and then another mill for every 10 innings after that. He is now at 18.2 innings.

Addison Barger (right elbow inflammation) is hitting but has not yet started a throwing rehab program. His arm, of course, is a huge part of his arsenal. They miss him as a deterrent against opposing runners and miss his power potential.

Make the call – Sauced or Smoked

With the 2026 hockey playoffs in full swing, here’s a chance to show your puck loyalty in a decidedly delicious and unmistakeable way, courtesy of BetMGM Canada. Check out the showdown in the east and tell us your personal choice – Carolina or Montreal – by choosing Carolina BBQ or Montreal Smoked Meat, with a chance for a grand prize that will pay off in a delicious way. To enter the draw go to

SaucedOrSmoked.com/griff

Here are the GriffsthePitch.com power rankings, with huge changes from opening day, which was largely based on the previous season and traditional spring mirages. Number in parentheses is the end of April power rank.

1-Dodgers (1)

’26 Opening Payroll: $390.5M (1)

Manager: Dave Roberts

SUMMARY: One can argue at any moment they are not the best team, but they will be there when it counts and have purchased the depth to withstand injuries.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (9) Kyle Tucker, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yosh Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernandez, Edwin Diaz.

2-Braves (4)

’26 Opening Payroll: $246.5 (8)

Manager: Walt Weiss

SUMMARY: After a down year in 2025, the Braves are back with a different manager, trending up with legitimate Cy Young and MVP candidates.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (7) Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ha-Seong Kim, Ronald Acuna Jr, Chris Sale, Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez.

3-Rays (12)

’26 Opening Payroll: $105.2M (27)

Manager: Kevin Cash

SUMMARY: Every time you feel this is it for the Rays way that their luck has run out, they come up with an answer. This time it’s home at the Trop with OF Chandler Simpson and a healthy LHP Shane McLanahan.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: Zero

4-Brewers (7)

’26 Opening Payroll: $129.1M (21)

Manager: Pat Murphy

SUMMARY: The Rays and Brewers are the MLB players union’s

Choice, the argument against ownership linking payroll and contending.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (2) Christian Yelich, Brandon Woodruff.

5-Yankees (3)

’26 Opening Payroll: $333.2M (3)

Manager: Aaron Boone

SUMMARY: Bronx Bombers live up to their name, but need to straighten the bullpen before they can be elite. Can David Bednar hold up for 162 games plus October?

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (7) Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon, Trent Grisham, Max Fried.

6-Padres (2)

’26 Opening Payroll: $262.1 (6)

Manager: Craig Stammen (R)

SUMMARY: The Padres will make a couple of blockbuster moves before the deadline that have people scratching their head. But they remain forever interesting.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (7) Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Michael King, Fernando Tatis Jr, Nick Castellanos, Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish.

7-Guardians (13)

’26 Opening Payroll: $97.7M (29)

Manager: Stephen Vogt

SUMMARY: The Guardians have sprinted to the lead in a division that has been surprisingly gettable with Skubal out and the Twins and Royals disappointing.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (1) Jose Ramirez.

8-Diamondbacks (11)

’26 Opening Payroll: $186.3M (16)

Manager: Torey Lovullo

SUMMARY: Ketel Marte has started to crush again and this team is only going to get better as the season progresses. Imagine if Corbin Burnes was healthy.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (7) Corbin Burnes, Nolan Arenado, Eduardo Rodriguez, Merrill KJelly, Zac Gallen, Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll.

9-Cardinals (10)

’26 Opening Payroll: $118.6 (24)

Manager: Oliver Marmol

SUMMARY: The city and the region are always going to support their Cardinals, so planning a rebuild wasn’t a gamble. But they are winning and competitive already. Bonus.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: Zero

10-Phillies (20)

’26 Opening Payroll: $311.2M (4)

Manager: Don Mattingly

SUMMARY: This team was always going to rebound, with the rotation they have and talent in the lineup. Rob Thomson isn’t as dumb, nor Don Mattingly as smart as we think.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (6) Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto.

11-Reds (6)

’26 Opening Payroll: $146.7M (19)

Manager: Terry Francona

SUMMARY: With Hunter Greene on the verge of a return to the mound, the Reds are a trendy choice to battle for a wild-card through the summer..

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (1) Eugenio Suarez.

12-Cubs (5)

’26 Opening Payroll: $240.09M (9)

Manager: Craig Counsell

SUMMARY: The Cubs are like a rollercoaster covered in ivy. So much talent yet a 10-game losing streak. Even the Billy Goat curse is making a comeback.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (7) Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Shota Imanaga, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Jameson Taillon, Nico Hoerner.

13-White Sox (29)

’26 Opening Payroll: $105.2M (26)

Manager: Will Venable

SUMMARY: Just south of the Cubs, both geographically and in power rankings, you will find the White Sox. Their Japanese import is early choice for rookie-of-the-year.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (1) Andrew Benintendi.

14-Nationals (27)

’26 Opening Payroll: $102.4M (28)

Manager: Blake Butera (R)

SUMMARY: The youngest front office in baseball is leaning on its young offence to lead them into the future. Better than the Mets and much cheaper.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: Zero

15-Mariners (17)

’26 Opening Payroll: $181.2M (18)

Manager: Dan Wilson

SUMMARY: M’s rotation is the best young foursome in majors. They need to create more offence to pull away in what has been a bad AL West.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (5) Luis Castillo, Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor.

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16-Blue Jays (19)

’26 Opening Payroll: $300.3M (5)

Manager: John Schneider

SUMMARY: Once the NHL playoffs are over, a lot of Canadians will shift attention back to the Jays and wonder what the hell is happening top the AL defending champs.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (8) Vlad Guerrero Jr, George Springer, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Jose Berrios, Andres Gimenez, Anthony Santander, Kaz Okamoto.

17-Athletics (16)

’26 Opening Payroll: $131.9M (20)

Manager: Mark Kotsay

SUMMARY: The A’s are like the Indians in the early ’90s when they were readying to move into Jacobs Field. A’s want to be good now but prefer to win in new Vegas digs.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (1) Luis Severino.

18-Pirates (9)

’26 Opening Payroll: $120.7M (22)

Manager: Don Kelly

SUMMARY: Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin and a great stadium are a good start, but unless they keep Skenes it’ll be a tough sell to quality free agents.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (2) Mitch Keller, Konnor Griffin

19-Marlins (23)

’26 Opening Payroll: $78.1M (30)

Manager: Clayton McCullough

SUMMARY: Speed and youth and three key Canadians make this an interesting team to watch. They are finding ways to compete but still have a distance to go.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (1) Sandy Alcantara

20-Orioles (15)

’26 Opening Payroll: $201.5M (13)

Manager: Craig Albernaz (R)

SUMMARY: When the O’s jumped up to 101 and 91 wins in 2023-24 they tried to accelerate the winning process given an abundance of young position player talent. It has failed.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (3) Pete Alonso, Chris Bassitt, Tyler O’Neill.

21-Astros (25)

’26 Opening Payroll: $228.2M (11)

Manager: Joe Espada

SUMMARY: The Astros window of post-season opportunity has lasted since 2017, but that window may be closing thanks to key injuries and a team ERA over five..

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (7) Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa, Christian Walker, Josh Hader, Tatsuya Imai, Lance McCullers.

22-Twins (18)

’26 Opening Payroll: $119.2M (23)

Manager: Derek Shelton

SUMMARY: They looked at a division that seemed wide-open but replacing key bullpen pieces they traded off last summer has not been easy. Plus, the loss of Pablo Lopez.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (2) Pablo Lopez, Buron Buxton.

23-Red Sox (21)

’26 Opening Payroll: $256.1M (7)

Manager: Chad Tracy (R)

SUMMARY: The Red Sox identity has always been about scoring runs and ruling at Fenway. Firing Alex Cora was the latest in what seems like dysfunctional relationship among players, fans and front office.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (5) Sonny Gray, Trevor Story, Garrett Crochet, Masataka Yoshida, Willson Contreras.

24-Rangers (14)

’26 Opening Payroll: $200.1M (14)

Manager: Skip Schumaker

SUMMARY: The Rangers are struggling in a very winnable decision. They have solid names in the starting rotation but the three youngsters are still finding themselves.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (5) Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager, Nate Eovaldi, Brandon Nimmo, Joc Pederson.

25-Giants (22)

’26 Opening Payroll: $223.6M (12)

Manager: Tony Vitello (R)

SUMMARY: Sure Buster Posey is one of the good guys in baseball, but the move to a college-background manager and some questionable personnel moves add up to this.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (6) Matt Chapman, Robbie Ray, Rafael Devers, Jung Hoo Lee, Logan Webb, Willy Adames.

26-Royals (28)

’26 Opening Payroll: $181.7M (17)

Manager: Matt Quatraro

SUMMARY: The Royals were a trendy picks to take the next step. Sal Perez is nearing the end of his road and Vinnie Pasquantino has struggled coming off heady WBC success.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (3) Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Bobby Witt Jr.

27-Mets (26)

’26 Opening Payroll: $368.7M (2)

Manager: Carlos Mendoza

SUMMARY: The Mets have an owner with the deepest pockets in baseball who has yet to figure it out when it comes to building a winning roster. Bo is not a Big Apple sort of guy.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (8) Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Sean Manaea, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, Kodai Senga.

28-Tigers (8)

’26 Opening Payroll: $236.7M (10)

Manager: A.J. Hinch

SUMMARY: Even if Tarik Skubal manages to fast-track back to health and to the rotation, it may be too late in terms of contending. Look for them to explore trade talks in July.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (5) Tarik Skubal, Javier Baez, Gleyber Torres, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty.

29-Angels (24)

’26 Opening Payroll: $187.0M (15)

Manager: Kurt Suzuki (R)

SUMMARY: The Angels are benefitting from a Mike Trout power resurgence, but, elsewhere, Jose Soriano’s numbers have levelled off and Yusei Kikuchi is on 60-day IL.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (3) Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon. Yusei Kikuchi.

30-Rockies (30)

’26 Opening Payroll: $105.3M (25)

Manager: Warren Schaefer

SUMMARY: The Rockies have been slightly more competitive in ‘26 but there is no reason to move them out of the Mile-High basement.

PLAYERS AT $15M-PLUS AAV: (1) Kris Bryant.

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For those that shrug and believe the Jays should be beating teams like Miami with regularity, it should be noted that Tuesday’s win evened the series and merely served to vault the Jays past the Marlins by a half game in the overall standings. Yes, Toronto has been decidedly mediocre for the first 55 games, at 26-29.

The Jays’ six-game homestand concludes on Wednesday afternoon with the rubber game of the series. Afterwards, the Jays head to Baltimore (4) and Atlanta (3). The schedule does not get any easier and for the Jays to battle back to above .500 and get themselves back in a wildcard race, they will need to tighten up their defence.

The Blue Jays, for the past several years, under GM Ross Atkins and his data-driven front-office group, have loved to emphasize “run prevention”, the combination of solid pitching enhanced by superior defence. This year it’s not been happening for them.

The Jays for the past several years, have leaned into a 5-man rotation led by veterans who take the ball every 5-6 days, accumulate 30-32 starts and log 170-200 innings…supported by a superior defence. Think Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and now, in 2026, Dylan Cease. But this year, through 55 games, the Jays’ run-prevention formula has not been quite the same. Blame injuries to six starting pitchers and an outfield that pays nightly tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s classic A Farewell to Arms.

Bassitt departed via free agency. Cease recently went on the IL with a hamstring tweak. Berrios ended a streak of eight 30+ start seasons and will miss the entire season with a trifecta of elbow procedures. Gausman soldiers on alone at this point, seconded by the talented youngster, Yesavage.

As for the defence, it’s much harder to quantify. The outfield has been the main culprit in letting down the pitchers. Bad routes and weak arms, a deadly combo. Just consider Monday’s debacle with left fielder Yohendrick Pinango in non-support of Trey Yesavage.

Make the call – Sauced or Smoked

With the 2026 hockey playoffs in full swing, here’s a chance to show your puck loyalty in a decidedly delicious and unmistakeable way, courtesy of BetMGM Canada. Check out the showdown in the east and tell us your personal choice – Carolina or Montreal – by choosing Carolina BBQ or Montreal Smoked Meat, with a chance for a grand prize that will pay off in a delicious way. To enter the draw go to SaucedOrSmoked.com/griff

In Game 1 of the series, trailing 2-1, Yesavage, the 22-year-old rookie was in control for most of six innings vs. the Marlins, until the hesitant Pinango butchered a flyball with two out in the sixth, on which he mistakenly expected Andres Gimenez to make the play in short left field. Yesavage was already walking off the field. The veteran shortstop had shifted up the middle and peeled off after a long run, clearly giving way to the onrushing outfielder. That routine catch would have ended the inning. Pinango compounded the gaffe by kicking the ball toward centre field on a feet-first slide that scored a run all the way from first. The outfielder racing in is expected to take flyballs in front of him that he can reach comfortably. He could and he didn’t.

The rookie, who at times has provided a needed spark with his lethanded bat, later in the sixth, butchered another ball over his head on which he drop-stepped with the wrong foot. That initial misstep spiraled as his attempt to catch the ball on the warning track devolved into a discombobulated double.

“I worry about it in-game,” Schneider said of the effects of bad defence on a pitcher. “You think you have the third out and all of a sudden you don’t and a run is in. You have to lock it back in there and keep it right there. You don’t want to let your guard down. You see it happen a lot. You see it happen all the time, especially the third out of an inning. You kind of go, ‘Okay, I’m out of it’ and then you have to lock it back in. Pitchers get it.”

Yesavage on the original misplay would have been through the sixth in an efficient 72 pitches. Instead, he threw 15 more pitches to get the final out, allowed three earned runs (that he didn’t deserve) in the sixth. He retired two more batters in the seventh, leaving with a pitch count of 98 and a 2-1 deficit that had undeservedly turned into 5-2.

“Trey was great,” Schneider said prior to Tuesday’s game. “His line should have looked different. He probably could have gone eight innings, with the way he was pitching and where his pitch count was. The score looks different. His ERA looks different. I think you evaluate pitchers, sort of, in a vacuum. You have to play well behind them (defensively).”

This is not the same defensive team effort that provided such a spark for the Jays in 2025 and brought fans out of their seats numerous times on the extended run to Game 7 of the World Series. Thus far, the Jays had made a total of 34 errors – 10 by pitchers, nine by catchers and countless more mental errors that have not showed up in the boxscore but have been costly, nevertheless.

“There’s been a few guys who have started slow, who are really good defenders,” Schneider opined. “(Pitchers) get docked on certain plays and your numbers look a certain way. It catches up, usually.

“We definitely have standards for a few guys that could be a little bit better than they are. There’s different personnel, right. Like, you’re missing (Nathan Lukes) for a while and he’s pretty damn good in the outfield. There’s different traits that we have (now) compared to what we have had in the past, too.”

There was good news for Pinango in that Schneider stayed with him and played him immediately despite the disastrous performance. He was out in left field again on Tuesday. Mid-afternoon, the youngster had been out on the empty Rogers Centre field working on his routes with coach Mark Budzinski and it paid off with several tough catches in the game and the bonus of a solo homer in the sixth for a 2-0 lead.

“I thought for sure, the first ball of the game was going to go to him,” Schneider smiled. “That’s just how baseball works. (Monday’s) two plays that he could go put behind him. If you’re a major-league player you’re going to make adjustments. We’ve got great coaches to help. It was nice to have a bit of a cushion and leave him out there. He’s done so much good, I didn’t want one game to be the highlight of Yohendrick Pinango.”

So, there is help on the way. When can fans expect the Jays cavalry to arrive and return this team to some semblance of what had excited the nation in 2025?

Here are some injury updates from Tuesday: Alejandro Kirk has been here in Toronto the entire homestand. He has caught bullpens, but it’s the torque to the thumb on any swing with intent that has not been tested. The Jays will be better when he returns, likely with Brandon Valenzuela as backup.

Shane Bieber threw two innings in a Florida Complex League game on Monday and will throw three frames next time. He is at least a month away.

Max Scherzer is throwing 30 pitches vs. live hitting, the equivalent of two innings, on the field at Rogers Centre on Wednesday morning. His timing beyond thatr is unclear.

Addison Barger has not yet started a throwing rehab. They miss his arm and his potential as a power bat. Meanwhile, it’s clear that the challenges of the Jays repeating as AL champions are real and they have yet to show it’s a task at which they are capable.

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For those that shrug and believe the Jays should be beating teams like Miami with regularity, it should be noted that Tuesday’s win evened the series and merely served to vault the Jays past the Marlins by a half game in the overall standings. Yes, Toronto has been decidedly mediocre for the first 55 games, at 26-29.

The Jays’ six-game homestand concludes on Wednesday afternoon with the rubber game of the series. Afterwards, the Jays head to Baltimore (4) and Atlanta (3). The schedule does not get any easier and for the Jays to battle back to above .500 and get themselves back in a wildcard race, they will need to tighten up their defence.

The Blue Jays, for the past several years, under GM Ross Atkins and his data-driven front-office group, have loved to emphasize “run prevention”, the combination of solid pitching enhanced by superior defence. This year it’s not been happening for them.

The Jays for the past several years, have leaned into a 5-man rotation led by veterans who take the ball every 5-6 days, accumulate 30-32 starts and log 170-200 innings…supported by a superior defence. Think Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and now, in 2026, Dylan Cease. But this year, through 55 games, the Jays’ run-prevention formula has not been quite the same. Blame injuries to six starting pitchers and an outfield that pays nightly tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s classic A Farewell to Arms.

Bassitt departed via free agency. Cease recently went on the IL with a hamstring tweak. Berrios ended a streak of eight 30+ start seasons and will miss the entire season with a trifecta of elbow procedures. Gausman soldiers on alone at this point, seconded by the talented youngster, Yesavage.

As for the defence, it’s much harder to quantify. The outfield has been the main culprit in letting down the pitchers. Bad routes and weak arms, a deadly combo. Just consider Monday’s debacle with left fielder Yohendrick Pinango in non-support of Trey Yesavage.

Make the call – Sauced or Smoked

With the 2026 hockey playoffs in full swing, here’s a chance to show your puck loyalty in a decidedly delicious and unmistakeable way, courtesy of BetMGM Canada. Check out the showdown in the east and tell us your personal choice – Carolina or Montreal – by choosing Carolina BBQ or Montreal Smoked Meat, with a chance for a grand prize that will pay off in a delicious way. To enter the draw go to SaucedOrSmoked.com/griff

In Game 1 of the series, trailing 2-1, Yesavage, the 22-year-old rookie was in control for most of six innings vs. the Marlins, until the hesitant Pinango butchered a flyball with two out in the sixth, on which he mistakenly expected Andres Gimenez to make the play in short left field. Yesavage was already walking off the field. The veteran shortstop had shifted up the middle and peeled off after a long run, clearly giving way to the onrushing outfielder. That routine catch would have ended the inning. Pinango compounded the gaffe by kicking the ball toward centre field on a feet-first slide that scored a run all the way from first. The outfielder racing in is expected to take flyballs in front of him that he can reach comfortably. He could and he didn’t.

The rookie, who at times has provided a needed spark with his lethanded bat, later in the sixth, butchered another ball over his head on which he drop-stepped with the wrong foot. That initial misstep spiraled as his attempt to catch the ball on the warning track devolved into a discombobulated double.

“I worry about it in-game,” Schneider said of the effects of bad defence on a pitcher. “You think you have the third out and all of a sudden you don’t and a run is in. You have to lock it back in there and keep it right there. You don’t want to let your guard down. You see it happen a lot. You see it happen all the time, especially the third out of an inning. You kind of go, ‘Okay, I’m out of it’ and then you have to lock it back in. Pitchers get it.”

Yesavage on the original misplay would have been through the sixth in an efficient 72 pitches. Instead, he threw 15 more pitches to get the final out, allowed three earned runs (that he didn’t deserve) in the sixth. He retired two more batters in the seventh, leaving with a pitch count of 98 and a 2-1 deficit that had undeservedly turned into 5-2.

“Trey was great,” Schneider said prior to Tuesday’s game. “His line should have looked different. He probably could have gone eight innings, with the way he was pitching and where his pitch count was. The score looks different. His ERA looks different. I think you evaluate pitchers, sort of, in a vacuum. You have to play well behind them (defensively).”

This is not the same defensive team effort that provided such a spark for the Jays in 2025 and brought fans out of their seats numerous times on the extended run to Game 7 of the World Series. Thus far, the Jays had made a total of 34 errors – 10 by pitchers, nine by catchers and countless more mental errors that have not showed up in the boxscore but have been costly, nevertheless.

“There’s been a few guys who have started slow, who are really good defenders,” Schneider opined. “(Pitchers) get docked on certain plays and your numbers look a certain way. It catches up, usually.

“We definitely have standards for a few guys that could be a little bit better than they are. There’s different personnel, right. Like, you’re missing (Nathan Lukes) for a while and he’s pretty damn good in the outfield. There’s different traits that we have (now) compared to what we have had in the past, too.”

There was good news for Pinango in that Schneider stayed with him and played him immediately despite the disastrous performance. He was out in left field again on Tuesday. Mid-afternoon, the youngster had been out on the empty Rogers Centre field working on his routes with coach Mark Budzinski and it paid off with several tough catches in the game and the bonus of a solo homer in the sixth for a 2-0 lead.

“I thought for sure, the first ball of the game was going to go to him,” Schneider smiled. “That’s just how baseball works. (Monday’s) two plays that he could go put behind him. If you’re a major-league player you’re going to make adjustments. We’ve got great coaches to help. It was nice to have a bit of a cushion and leave him out there. He’s done so much good, I didn’t want one game to be the highlight of Yohendrick Pinango.”

So, there is help on the way. When can fans expect the Jays cavalry to arrive and return this team to some semblance of what had excited the nation in 2025?

Here are some injury updates from Tuesday: Alejandro Kirk has been here in Toronto the entire homestand. He has caught bullpens, but it’s the torque to the thumb on any swing with intent that has not been tested. The Jays will be better when he returns, likely with Brandon Valenzuela as backup.

Shane Bieber threw two innings in a Florida Complex League game on Monday and will throw three frames next time. He is at least a month away.

Max Scherzer is throwing 30 pitches vs. live hitting, the equivalent of two innings, on the field at Rogers Centre on Wednesday morning. His timing beyond thatr is unclear.

Addison Barger has not yet started a throwing rehab. They miss his arm and his potential as a power bat. Meanwhile, it’s clear that the challenges of the Jays repeating as AL champions are real and they have yet to show it’s a task at which they are capable.

Leave a comment

“Not as of yet,” manager John Schneider offered in answer to moving Springer in the order, while addressing media in his office, earlier in the homestand. “Would I (consider it)? Yes, I always would. If George knows, he’ll hit anywhere.

“There’s a time to make an adjustment to change something up to see if it helps. And there’s a time to say, ‘Hey, we think you’re going to turn this around.’ That’s kind of where I’m at now. See how the next few weeks go, or see how the next few games go, whatever it is. I’m always open to changing it. Guys are open to it, too.”

The spotlight of the perceived lineup crisis, a crack in Jays confidence, came to the fore, back on May 18 in the Bronx, the ninth inning of an eventual 7-6 loss to the Yankees. Trailing by two runs, entering their final at-bat, the Jays had Yankee closer David Bednar on the ropes in their first meeting, facing the team the Jays vanquished in the AL Division Series last October. There was a lot of emotion being worn at this moment, held in 52 hearts and on 52 sleeves.

Having already scored a ninth-inning run, needing one more tally to tie, rookie Yohendrick Pinango worked a walk to put runners at first and second. Back to the top of the order with Springer and Vlad Guerrero Jr. up with one out and the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Nowhere else you’d rather be. Bednar was coming off of a failed outing and was in trouble. After three straight balls, Springer seemed in control of the at-bat. He then swung and missed at three straight would-have-been balls, sliders below the zone and the tone of the game changed. Vlad bounced out and it was over.

Springer, in the final season of what has been the team’s most important free-agent contract this century, six years and $150M, becoming a Jay, emerging from the pandemic in 2021, certainly deserves to remain in the lineup, but is no longer the offensive catalyst who deserves that extra at-bat whenever the lineup turns over for a fifth time in late innings. Yes, at 36-years-old, he is coming off a fabulous renaissance season in 2025…but that was then.

There are reasons other than age, but age is the overriding factor. Springer has had a broken big toe on his left foot and who knows whaty other aches and pains that he has played through. He is in MLB’s 29^th percentile of baserunning, with the slowest sprint speed of his career. He has the slowest personal home-to-first-time of his 13 seasons and the lowest average on exit-velocity for batted balls.

He has hit leadoff in 33 of his 34 games, all as DH. Overall, he is 27-for-131-.206, with a .288 on-base and .662 OPS. Facing right-handers, he is batting .186 with four homers and eight RBIs. He is 6-for-41-.146 from the seventh inning on. He is 6-for-45-.133 when his team is trailing. He is 3-for-28-.107 from the seventh inning on and within three runs. Those are not the leadoff numbers for a team that is competing for a post-season berth in the AL’s toughest division.

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“Honestly, I know those numbers are what they are,” Schneider said. “Kind of internally, you know he’s dealing with the toe and his timing has been off and I think that’s a little bit behind him. Trending in the right direction. Sometimes you have to let players go through it a little bit.”

This team’s acclaimed chemistry, the clubhouse magic of 2025, comes from winning. When this Jays team is winning, it’s Vlad and George cutting it up in the dugout, a real-life Uncrustables commercial. But on the field, when they’re in a jam, neither of their star players has, thus far, had an answer. It’s become like kids in a playground where the sandbox is filled with quicksand. Springer and the team, moving forward, would be better off with him batting fifth or sixth every day, instead of being subjected to the white-hot pressure of leadoff within a struggling offence.

“There’s a time to make an adjustment to change something up to see if it helps,”

“There’s a time to make an adjustment to change something up to see if it helps,” Schneider continued. “And there’s a time to say, ‘Hey, we think you’re going to turn this around.’ That’s kind of where I’m at now. See how the next few weeks go, or see how the next few games go, whatever it is. I’m always open to changing it. Guys are open to it, too.”

To the manager’s point, Springer’s production has started to show signs of life, but his skills at this age, this stage, are more suited to the 5-6 spots in anyone’s order. Consider that a 53-game production from the Jays’ 5-hole, combined, is 37-for-201-.184 with 25 RBIs and a .247 on-base. Consider that the 4-5-6 spots in the order, combined, have a .329 slugging average, with 72 RBIs. Meanwhile, the sixth spot in 53 games has 16 total RBIs, the lowest of any position in the Jays’ batting order. Springer and his threatening presence and his formerly five-tool toolbox would serve the Jays far better in spots 5-or-6.

“You try to figure out the best thing to do with who you have, each series or each week,” Schneider concluded. “I feel like there’s been a lot of moving parts, but, yeah, I feel some of that is active. We’ve got a lot of games left, over 100. We need to just focus on having good at-bats. I think when we get some guys back in the lineup (Kirk, Barger, Lukes), it allows you to be a little bit more flexible then.

“It’s not early. But it’s a season. Have we played up to our expectations? No. Have we played up to our ability? No. You really trust that over the course of a season that evens out, but you don’t want to have it even out too late.”

That timing of any lineup move is a key point for Schneider and the Jays. In the words of an anonymous, homespun baseball philosopher, “It’s getting late, early.”

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The Rays, as currently constructed, really have only three traditionally solid hitters to throw out there on a nightly basis, usually batting 2-3-4 in the lineup. That trio includes third-baseman Junior Caminero, first-baseman Jonathan Aranda and DH Yandy Diaz. The other eight position players, aside from their two no-name catchers, are pedestrian and interchangeable whenever they step in the batter’s box – but become unpredictable, dangerous and threatening once they reach base. The Blue Jays for two series, six games, have been forced to come to grips with that concept, seeming to tighten and struggle against the Rays threateningly aggressive gene.

Monday night’s game was a nightmare for the Jays. They had been swept at the Trop just six days earlier, but now had the Rays on their home turf. Maybe that would change outcomes. Maybe not. Then came the six-inning, two- hour unravel with their ace, Kevin Gausman on the hill. Here’s how it all went down.

FIRST INNING: The Rays uniquely skilled left fielder, Chandler Simpson, gave an early preview of the havoc he would wreak on this night. He lined a 1-2 pitch off the raised glove of Gausman that bounced slowly towards first base. With Simpson hauling down the line, Gausman rushed and fumbled with his barehand and glove and stumbled to a no-play. Infield hit.

With Simpson on the move running from first, Caminero lobbed a soft single to right, with the runner cruising into third. Aranda drove a medium depth sac-fly to Yohendrick Pinango. In truth it didn’t matter how deep the flyball was going to end up being, Simpson was always going to tag and score.

SECOND INNNING: The speedy but light-hitting shortstop, Taylor Walls, surprised Daulton Varsho with a deep drive over his head that one-hopped back off the wall. The Gold Glover knowing the speed of the runner, rushed to compensate for his weak arm and bobbled the ball slightly on the pickup, evenb allowing the lead-footed catcher, Hunter Feduccia, to score from first on Wall’s triple.

They weren’t done with their intimidation tour. With the contact play on for the Rays, even with nobody out in the inning, Simpson laced a grounder to Vlad Guerrero Jr, who made a perfect throw to the plate to nail Walls who had left as soon as he read groundball. That Vlad to Brandon Valenzuela defensive gem was the good news. The bad news was that it left Simpson at first with only one out.

The Rays offensive catalyst stole second, went to third on a groundball that might otherwise have been an inning-ending double-play and scored on Aranda’s single.

FOURTH INNING: Simpson’s most interesting and devastating contribution of the night began with two outs and nobody on. He chopped a slow bouncer between first and second base. Vlad, who often plays first base like a puppy chasing a tennis ball, poached to his right to glove the ball and found nobody covering first. He seemed to expect that Gausman could beat the lightning-fast outfielder to the bag. Didn’t happen. The best course of action would have been for Vlad to turn and head to first base, allowing Ernie Clement to attempt a quick transfer and maybe an out.

Then the inning became truly interesting. Gausman tried two half-hearted pickoff attempts. One additional step-off or pickoff attempt and MLB rules dictate it would be an automatic balk. Gausman followed with the unthinkable. He committed two balks on the same play — only one of them called. First, he flinched while in the stretch position, with all of the runner, batter and dugout yelling and pointing to mound. A confused Gausman then stepped off for a third time. That time the automatic balk was called. John Schneider explained there was actually a strategy.

“Simpson is kind of in a different category than anyone, really,” Schneider explained. “The balk was – we were, actually, going to throw over again. We were waiting for the (pitch) clock to go down. It was the initial (flinch) balk that (the umpires) missed. When everyone was pointing at Kev, for him, it was like, ‘Oh, shit what are you looking at’, so he stepped off. But we were throwing over again in that situation, so it definitely puts pressure on you.”

Basically, in Schneider’s own words, they were hoping that Simpson as the pitch clock wound down to zero, would be confident the Jays would not throw over again and that Gausman might catch him leaning in anticipation and steal an out on the pickoff. Bottom line is the Jays were willing to take a balk, because they knew he would likely be safe, if stealing the base, anyway. That is respect.

Still with two outs, but Simpson now perched on second and with Caminero stepping in, on the second pitch, he stole third and scored when Brandon Valenzuela’s throw sailed and tailed out into left field for an error.

SIXTH INNING: Simpson completed his shoulder-shrug hat-trick of infield singles, lacing a grounder over the mound headed to centre. But Andres Gimenez glided gracefully to his left and gloved the ball just to the right of second base. But knowing who was running, the Gold Glover double-clutched inside his glove and the quicksilver runner sprinted across the bag.

“Teams like Tampa, Cleveland play the same way,” manager Schneider opined. “You’re very aware of their intent. I mean, not everyone is built that way, but it’s something that every team tries to do. It puts pressure on the defence and mistakes happen.”

TEAMS BORN TO RUN

Baseball has forever been a copycat game. When the big boppers were bopping big in the late ‘90s and early ’00s, everyone tried to gather players that swung for the fences. But it was rare for low-payroll teams to be able to lure the best sluggers to play in their city. Now, 25 years later, speed and ability to disrupt an opponent comes relatively cheap. Analytics always scoffed at the impact of speed, smallball, stolen bases, bunting-for-hits and taking the extra base. We saw the new-wave possibilities in Rays vs. the Jays, more specifically, that one stretch of two hours and six innings.

Consider these stolen base facts through May 13.

The Top 8 MLB teams in stolen bases (Marlins, Guardians, Rays, Nationals, Brewers, Yankees, Padres and Pirates) are a combined 191-151. Of those eight teams, five are among the bottom eight in team payroll, averaging 21^st overall in spending.

The Bottom 8 teams in stolen bases (Giants, Jays, Astros, Tigers, Rangers, O’s, Mets and D’backs) are a combined 151-193. Of those eight teams, seven are among the top 14 in team payroll, averaging 9^th overall in spending.

It’s not going to get any easier for the Jays. Teams are paying attention to current video and recent history and the Jays troubles defending what the Rays bring to the table in terms of aggressiveness and speed will not be overlooked. As defending AL champs, teams are no longer planning ahead to future series, looking past the Jays.

“That’s definitely noticeable,” Schneider said. “We talked about it at spring training. Teams are coming in giving you their best shot. From being the hunter to the hunted, yeah, real thing. To me, that’s just mindset. It’s mentality on how you play.

“I think we can all look at each other and say we can probably be a little bit more urgent, if you will. What I’ve been saying to the guys is, ‘What you’ve made yourself, what you did last year to become x player, you have to then push the envelope to continue to be x player, or better, as opposed to just assuming that the same results are going to happen.’

“It’s just natural baseball. Teams are going to dig in on you a little bit more. Teams are going to prepare a little bit differently. They’re going to try to expose holes, so you have to stay ahead of it. You can’t just expect it to be what it was at its peak.”

The league is adjusting to the Jays. They are utilizing speed and aggressive baserunning. You have already seen it used vs. the Jays by more teams than just the Rays. Can they find a way to now adjust back?

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“That’s being efficient and trusting your stuff in the zone, really,” manager John Schneider said following up on his pre-game wish to see more efficiency even if it means fewer strikeouts. “Once you establish that, then you can kind of expand and get some chase. But when you’re talking about a starting pitcher’s outing, that’s about the best you can draw it up.”

But, once again, the Jays early-season offence struggled … although they did manage to chase lefty starter Reid Detmers before the end of the fourth, with six walks, driving his pitch count into the 90s and forcing the Angels to go to the bullpen. But what’s ailing the Jays’ bats as they struggle in all situations? Let’s examine that.

The Blue Jays from the moment Game 7 ended with a devastating loss to the Dodgers, they spent the winter and an entire spring training trying to assemble what they thought would be the best roster, the most productive lineup, trying to combine that vision with the best run prevention group in order to represent the Jays organization, the city and the country in defence of the American League crown.

That Jays optimum position-player lineup they worked so hard to cobble together in late-March and for the opening series vs. the Athletics, comprised: C-Alejandro Kirk; 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr.; 2B Ernie Clement; 3B Kazuma Okamoto; SS Andres Gimenez; LF Jesus Sanchez; CF Daulton Varsho; RF Addison Barger and DH George Springer.

So, what happened since the opening 3-game sweep of the A’s? The alarming bottom line for the Jays and their best laid plan has been sabotaged by injuries at key positions. The group they felt would succeed at the end of training camp, in any order manager John Schneider would have felt each day, has actually been together just two games out of the club’s first 38 starts.

Those two lonely games featuring Schneider’s chosen nine? On March 30 they lost 14-5 to the Rockies. On April 3 they lost 5-4 to the White Sox. Then the training-room mayhem began. Kirk fractured his thumb on a freaky foul tip, Barger sprained a couple of ankles running out a grounder and Springer broke his big toe on a foul ball. Not to mention, of course, the IL news that was already on the books with Anthony Santander and a still dizzying array of pitchers. Take a number with Jose Ministral.

The attempted art of Jays baseball has at times been paint-by-numbers unrecognizable. What’s going on? Wherefore the fundamentals of the game? What we’ve seen around MLB with the signing of a half-dozen young players to long-term deals, with more contract copycats on the horizon, teams seemingly rushing their best young prospects through the minors, one might surmise that MLB is replacing fundamentals with athleticism, willing to live with growing pains and bonehead plays in order to compete with colleges and other major professional sports that have always offered a quicker road to The Show..

“To me (defence and fundamentals) is the part that’s really easy to clean up,” Schneider said. “You don’t give teams extra outs when you’re trying to keep innings where they should be. It gives yourself a chance to come back in games, add on to leads, whatever it is. I don’t think as an organization that we are leaning into that, where it’s like, hey, we’re just going to forego fundamentals. We have leaned pretty heavily into that. We take a lot of pride in that.”

Whatever. They’re not there. The Blue Jays defence, baserunning and fundamentals may generously be considered a work in progress, but overall, after 38 games, there can be no arguing, the offence remains a mess.

Following is a summary of cumulative hitting stats from each Jays position on the field, with an analysis of what can be done to improve that performance. The first name is the player that was supposed to be the Jays’ opening day choice at that position, while the other names are players who have also played there.

Catcher (3): Kirk – 5G…Brandon Valenzuela, Tyler Heineman.

38G TOTALS: 124AB … 12R … 22H … 4HR … 10 RBI … .177 AVG .. .514 OPS

Kirk’s absence has emerged as the most important injury of the ’26 season. The foul tip that fractured his all-important left thumb meant that Heineman would be expected to make the majority of starts and, also, that raw rookie, Valenzuela, would be promoted ahead of any timing of expert projections, taking over the backup role.

But nothing is ever that easy. In the absence of Kirk, both men have struggled, each of them involved in game changing brain-fart moments, leading to close losses, with little to separate the two, offensively. However, the rookie Valenzuela has a higher ceiling and an ability to slow down the opponent’s running game.

As for Kirk, he has just now started to take dry swings, not even off a tee, while the Jays were in Tampa. With the injured thumb being his glove hand, he is still a long way from returning to the lineup. This was an injury that truly hurt both player and team. Kirk wasn’t yet hitting on all cylinders when he was injured but Heineman is a career backup and Valenzuela just a rookie, so as newby, shared starters they are in the spotlight on every pitch, reflecting on the defensive success or failure and responsible for pitch presentation and ABS challenges.

“Kirky’s a big part of our team,” Schneider admitted. “I think, in general, scoring (runs as a team) makes everything a little bit easier. It doesn’t put extra pressure on, ‘I have to make this pitch. I have to make this play. I have to make this throw.’ It can snowball on you in a hurry, not just from behind the plate. I think it’s a little bit of everything. You can help tighten up (the defence) and not give them extra outs.”

1B: Guerrero Jr. – 34G … Okamoto, Lenyn Sosa.

38G TOTALS: 139AB … 21R … 40H … 3HR … 16 RBI … .288 AVG .. .776 OPS

It’s ridiculous and unfathomable that after 38 games, Vlad, the half-billion-dollar man and his sometimes shared first-base position have contributed just three homers and 16 RBIs. This is not Luis Arraez or Tony Gwynn we’re talking about. Defensively, Vlad has not been as solidly entertaining and jaw-slackening with his gymnastics and stretches as in the past, but his aggressiveness on the bases has been spot-on. He needs much more offensive contribution and is capable of it. The good news is there are 124 games remaining. But Vlad, quit arguing with umpires when they are right.

2B: Clement – 29G…Sosa, Davis Schneider.

38G TOTALS: 148AB … 14R … 44H … 3HR … 15 RBI … .297 AVG .. .780 OPS

Clement has made 29 starts at second base, in addition to starting games for Okamoto at third and filling in for Gimenez at shortstop. His errors have been of commission, rather than omission and one was even on a play that was inexplicably missed by Guerrero at first. With Sosa and Schneider filling in when Clement is called upon elsewhere, second base has been solid.

3B: Okamoto – 35G…Clement.

38G TOTALS: 141AB … 18R … 36H … 9HR … 23 RBI … .255 AVG … .803 OPS

The clearest indication that the major-league game is bigger, faster, stronger than the top level of baseball played in Japan has been the odyssey of Okamoto. He struggled at the plate and in the field when the year started, but a move deeper back in the batter’s box (and a couple of inches closer) then playing deeper towards the outfield at third base, instead of even with the bag, both allowed him to improve dramatically.

“Making slight adjustments like that, talking with (infield coach) Carlos (Febles) and the hitting coaches, making little tweaks and adjustments like that, I think, has really helped me,” Okamoto said through his interpreter following Friday’s game.

There is no arguing that Okamoto’s defence has improved tremendously, with his arm being good enough, even on diving plays, if he uses the turf, to get throws across the diamond in time. He is currently on pace for 38 homers.

SS: Gimenez – 33G…Clement

38G TOTALS: 142AB … 12R … 34H … 3HR … 17 RBI … .239 AVG .. .636 OPS

Admittedly, Gimenez is no Bo Bichette at the plate, but one of the big reasons they could let Bichette go (other than the fact Bo wanted to leave) is that Gimenez and Clement give them Gold Glove quality up the middle. That’s always been a Jays priority. Gimenez batting at the bottom of the order chips in with an occasional key hit from the 8-9 spot, but the Jays need others to pick up the slack.

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LF: Sanchez – 13G…Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Schneider, Yohendrick Pinango.

38G TOTALS: 129AB … 18R … 35H … 3HR … 21 RBI … .271 AVG .. .758 OPS

The return of Barger to the active roster will allow for a little more stability in the two corners of the outfield, with Barger in right and perhaps a loose platoon of Sanchez and Straw in left. Predictability and consistency is always good.

CF: Varsho – 31G…Straw, Lukes.

37G TOTALS: 136AB … 19R … 35H … 5HR … 10 RBI … .257 AVG ... .750 OPS

Varsho’s arm has been taken advantage of by a bevy of opposing baserunners, but his ability to track line drives and flyballs in the alley and behind him makes him a clear asset. However, 10 RBIs in 38 games from centre field should be concerning.

RF: Barger – 5G…Sanchez, Lukes, Straw, Pinango.

37G TOTALS: 133AB … 15R … 27H … 2HR … 13 RBI … .203 AVG .. .561 OPS

The cavalry is here. Barger was, likely, healthy enough to play on Friday, but with lefthander Reid Detmers pitching for the Angels, the club left him on the IL an extra day, with Davis Schneider drawing an outfield start.

“(Barger) played a few days in a row,” Schneider said. “Just give him a few days to try and recoup.”

What has been very noticeable in the absence of Barger in right field is that opponents have clearly scouted the Jays healthy outfielders and discovered there is seemingly no deterrent to taking an extra base at almost every opportunity –- first-to-third, second-to-home, tagging and moving up on any medium depth flyball. It quite subtly, maybe not so subtly, hurts the pitching staff.

“It’s a big part of his game, obviously” Schneider said of Barger. “I’m looking forward to his bat, too. But, yeah, it’s just an added bonus when we’re talking about playing in sync and keeping runners where they should be … and he’s one of those.”

DH: Springer – 20G…Guerrero Jr, Eloy Jimenez, Okamoto, Pinango, Sosa, Straw, Varsho.

38G TOTALS: 149AB … 11R … 32H … 2HR … 15 RBI … .215 AVG .. .574 OPS

This DH role may be the most disappointing area of the current Jays offence, a role that should, by all modern metrics, be providing much more in the way of run production, especially given Springer’s astonishing comeback numbers from a year ago. Of course, he did already miss 17 days in April on the IL, which, as a side-benefit, allowed others to get ABs while also benefitting from a day off their feet.

However, at DH, two homers and 15 RBIs for a position that exists in baseball purely for its offensive opportunities does not cut it for any playoff team wannabe. If the Jays lineup gets healthy and more consistent, day-to-day, those numbers will ramp up.

The series continues vs. the Angels on Saturday and Sunday.

The highly anticipated return to the rotation of RH Trey Yesavage is important as is the anticipated return to right field of Addison Barger on tghew weekend vs. the Angels at Rogers Centre.

With all the improvements in the off-season and several key newcomers, is there an unwelcome change in the vibe surrounding the defending AL Champions? Is the new bullpen setup better than the ‘25 group of relievers and can it be even better.

Where do Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease of the Jays rank among AL opponents in terms of Top 2 starters in the rotation? And much more.

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In addition, much was made of the classy exit from the Phillies of fired manager Rob Thomson, making suere he mnet with media after being let go on the weekend. Griff talks about Buck Rodgers in Montreal, how he was fired mid-season, also by GM Dave Dombrowski, and how his request to meet the media on thge way out was dealt with in a unique and imaginative way.

The. Jays now head to Minneapolis to face the Twins and St. Pete vs. the Rays for a seven-game road trip.

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The shocking firings of Alex Cora (Boston Red Sox) and Rob Thomson (Philadelphia Phillies) headline this episode of Exit Philosophy. Why were both managers let go so early in the 2026 MLB season—and what does it mean for their teams moving forward?

We also break down the latest injury news surrounding Max Scherzer, who is headed to the IL with forearm and ankle issues. Could this actually benefit the Toronto Blue Jays rotation long-term? With José Berríos and Trey Yesavage nearing returns, is the timing working in Toronto’s favor?

Plus, we debate key MLB rotation matchups—would you rather build around Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suárez, or Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease?

🔵 More in this episode:

Blue Jays bullpen hierarchy and late-inning roles

Catchers’ offensive struggles—how concerning is it?

Why the Jays must upgrade their bench ASAP

Key roster decisions that could define the season

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The significant funds raised at the Gala allows the world-renowned Children’s Hospital to continue expanding a unique facility that provides a place to stay for families of children in long-term care, for serious health issues. There is no charge.

The former Expos who give of their time to attend and sign autographs are the attraction, while Perry’s niece, Kat, taken from us too early, is the inspiration.

This year’s list of former Expos in attendance was led by Hall-of-Famers Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. Others that returned to Montreal for the event included: Marquis Grissom, Cliff Floyd, Rondell White, Steve Rogers, Moises Alou, Darrin Fletcher, Kirk Rueter, Mike Fitzgerald, Tom Foley, Andy McGaffigan, Balor Moore, Denis Boucher, Joe Siddall, Bill Stoneman, Elias Sosa, Bill Atkinson, Don DeMola, Bill Lee and Lou Frazier. In addition, there was hockey hall-of-fame, former Canadiens defenceman, Larry Robinson.

But the one legend I would like to highlight in this column is Expos icon Felipe Alou, who each year when at the Gala receives one of the longest, loudest and most emotional ovations from the 1,000+ ExposFest supporters. Alou played for the Expos in 1974, his final year as a player. He coached with the major-league team during three different stints, managed in the Expos farm system for 13 years, marred Lucie Gagnon, a woman from Laval and managed the Expos for 10 years.

Reflections on Felipe

Before we begin, it should be noted that I am writing, not from a completely objective standpoint. I have told Felipe, as far back as the 1994-95 off-season, during the strike, at a time when I was in the process of leaving the Expos for The Toronto Star, that he was one of my, personal, Top 5 most admired men of all time. Sure, there are others that have joined my Top 10 list in the past 30 years, but not many.

As a player, on June 8, 1958, Alou became the second Dominican-born player in MLB, making his debut with the Giants. Via his performance and leadership in repping the Latino baseball community, he paved the way for others from his homeland, including two younger brothers, Matty who debuted with San Francisco in 1960 and Jesus who was called up to join his brothers with the same Giants in September, 1963.

The three Alous made history on Sept. 15, 1963, five days after Jay’s recall, appearing in the same outfield for the final two innings of a 13-5 win in Pittsburgh. Felipe insists that Willie Mays was the one who suggested to manager Alvin Dark that the Say Hey Kid come out of the game, with Felipe moving to centre, flanked by Jesus in right, Matty in left. The Alou brothers never had another sharing-the-outfield moment after that, but ended their MLB careers with a combined 5,094 hits, 231 more than the more celebrated DiMaggio brothers – Joe, Dom and Vince.

As a manager, on May 22, 1992, Alou became the first Dominican-born MLB skipper, replacing Tom Runnells with the Expos and paving the way for other Spanish-speaking candidates to at least be interviewed by showing that language did not have to be an impediment to leadership.

Finishing with a record of 1033-1021, Alou is one of six managers in history with 2,000-plus hits as a player and 1,000 or more wins as a manager, along with Frank Robinson, Joe Torre, Frankie Frisch, Joe Cronin and Jimmy Dykes. All are in the Hall-of-Fame except Felipe and Dykes. Add 200 HR to the criteria and the list narrows to Torre, Robinson and Alou. Combine playing and managing and that’s Hall-worthy.

The Wit and Wisdom of Felipe Alou

The Leadership.

**Pedro Martinez on Saturday called Felipe, his father, his friend and his mentor and that after his trade from the Dodgers to Montreal prior to the ’94 season that Alou believed in him despite the critics who questioned his size, his weight, his endurance and his ability to be a starting pitcher in the majors. Now he’s in Cooperstown.

**Lou Frazier was a career minor leaguer with one overpowering tool, his speed and ability to steal bases. Frazier was ready to quit, when as a 27-year-old who had never risen above Double-A, he signed a last-ditch free agent contract with the Expos prior to ’93. Felipe had managed against Frazier in the Dominican Winter League as the skinny utility guy had won the league MVP. Alou was entering his first full season as manager and convinced the front office to bring Frazier north with the team. In his first full season as manager, Frazier appreciates Alou taking that chance.

“Felipe brought me into his office when he heard I had been thinking about calling it quits,” Frazier recalled. “He told me, ‘I will never give up on a player until he shows he has given up on himself.” The St. Louis native went on to steal 37 bases in 138 games, batting .280, as a 28-year-old rookie and including the strike-shortened ’94 season when Expos were headed to the playoffs … that were cancelled.

The Family Dynamic

**Times have changed and family relationships have become softer since the early ‘90s. It must be noted the different dynamic of a father coaching his son in the majors, especially in that time, 34 years ago. Moises Alou had been obtained from the Pirates in trade and after sitting out the ’91 season with injury, he joined the Expos to play for his father. How different were those times in baseball. There was no Paternity List for the birth of a child. Moises was born in Atlanta on July 3, 1966, coincidentally the same day that Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger recorded a record two grand slam homers in the same game. Felipe was at Candlestick Park marvelling at Cloninger’s feat when his son entered the world. The schedule ruled.

**Empty clubhouse at Three Rivers Stadium in 1992 on Father’s Day Sunday morning. As Expos PR man I had arrived to the park early to finish and print the game notes. Borrowing the manager’s office, I was fine-tuning the notes when Moises Alou peeked around the corner, from the tunnel. Seeing his father had not yet arrived, he carefully placed a bottle of fine red wine on the manager’s desk. When asked what was going on, Moises responded, “This is the first Father’s Day I have ever been with my father.” Then quietly he went to his locker to prepare for the Pirates.

**A year later, in June of 1993, I arranged for the great photographer Rich Pilling to take a cover shot of Moises and Felipe Alou, together, for The Sporting News when the Expos arrived in St. Louis. The Expos were again playing like contenders and the Alous were leading the way. Everything was arranged and ready to go, but when we arrived at Busch Stadium, Moises saw the lineup card and his name was not there. Pilling was set up. When I sought out the left fielder, he growled at me, “I will not have my picture taken with that man.” Eventually, yes it happened.

**Felipe Alou treated his coaches like extended family and is proud that in his 10 years with the Expos as manager, he churned out six future MLB managers: Jim Tracy, Pete Mackanin, Jerry Manuel, Luis Pujols, Joe Kerrigan and Tim Johnson. His family tree.

The Wisdom of a Baseball Legend

**When GM Dan Duquette attempted to inject some early analytics into Felipe’s lineup construction: I had set up a pre-game meeting in the manager’s office before the first game of a Mets series at Shea. Duquette had bought into an early stats guru who published a stapled news letter. It had captured the GM’s imagination. The guy’s full time job was with New York City public sanitation. I escorted him into Felipe’s office. The meeting lasted about four minutes as the stats guy emerged looking ashen. “The man told me I should have (catcher) Tim Spehr leading off,” Felipe scowled. A couple of weeks later, at Olympic Stadium I received a New York Post clipping that this guy had been arrested for raising an alligator in his bathtub.

**Felipe on his players feeling pressure: “When you’re in the water swimming with the sharks you don’t feel pressure. It’s only when you are lying in bed later that you start to shake.”

**Felipe on an adverse reaction to the noise and flashing colours of fireworks at Shea Stadium, as we walked to the team bus after a Friday night game: “I do not like fireworks. It reminds me of Americans bombs in Santo Domingo (in 1965-66).”

**On wordlessly listening to a randomly optimistic Braves official sticking his head into Felipe’s office during a hurricane delay in Atlanta to tell him that there may be a three hour window soon that will allow the game to be played: “The man has obviously never been in a hurricane.”

**On pulling open his office drawer in the Atlanta clubhouse during a rain delay with a room full of Montreal traveling media and pulling out a half empty bottle of V.O. whiskey: “I guess Jim Fregosi was here.”

**On hearing late in September ‘92 that GM Duquette was not immediately taking the interim tag off Felipe’s manager title until they evaluated him, even given the Expos strong finish with fans showing him love and approval: “The man wants to evaluate me. He wants to evaluate. I have managed for 16 years. If he evaluates, he will hire me.”

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Consider that through Wednesday’s action, the AL champion Jays, the Red Sox, M’s, Astros, Phillies and Mets were a combined 36 games below the .500 mark. Yes, we all know the cliches seemingly always out there – “it’s early”, “water finds its own level”, “cream rises to the top”, “it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon” and more. But try and tell that to impatient fanbases in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and across Canada.

MLB DIVISION RANKINGS BASED ON W/L (through April 22): Overall the National League is a surprising 26 games above the break even mark in inter-league play. 1-NL Central + 24 (above .500) … 2-NL West +13 … 3-AL East -3 … T4-AL West -11 … T4-NL East -11 … 6-AL Central -12

BLUE JAYS ROTATION ISSUES: The Jays are having trouble in their first defence of an AL title since 1994. Sure, the team has suffered significant starting pitcher injuries, but they had stockpiled eight starters for such an eventuality. What had been a perceived surplus now seems prescient, acquired in anticipation of Shane Bieber’s expected 2026 delay, the Trey Yesavage slow build they knew would happen but they had hoped the could manage better, the Jose Berrios fallout with the uncertainty stemming from his leaving the team during the World Series. What the Jays didn’t anticipate was the season-ending injury to Cody Ponce. In light of that difficult blow, the Jays then signed another veteran starter off the street in LHP Patrick Corbin. It doesn’t get any easier. Now, it seems, they must deal with the mini-tempest surrounding their disgruntled fifth starter, lefty Eric Lauer.

The perceived split began with the 30-year-old losing his arbitration case in February, settling for $4.4M instead of his demand of $5.75M, then returning to training camp complaining about the process and how he was being undervalued because of his swing-man status even though he had been told the team would take care of him. That’s the ugly truth of arbitration. Then came an incident early in this past road trip. It surrounds his non-start, entering in the second inning as a bulk pitcher, coming in behind the opener. Lauer complained about his starting routine being disrupted and how much he hated the role. Problem is he didn’t tell manager John Schneider first. He did say to media that the decision was above his pay grade, which Schneider, when asked later, repeated and agreed with, telling his hurler to stay in his lane and just pitch when handed the ball. Finally came Lauer’s Sunday start in Anaheim, battling despite his velocity and stuff being below what it normally is and seemingly wrapped in more shoulder and upper back tape than a police action at a downtown shooting. Lauer maintained, “Nothing to see here”, while his manager, Schneider, maintained he had, in fact, first seen his gift-wrapped lefty when he was already out on the field. Hmm! On the road trip, Lauer spent more time under the bus than the Jays spent on it in a forced Greyhound ride from Phoenix to Anaheim on Sunday night.

Bottom line is that while there are injuries about to rejoin the team and the 50th anniversary of MLB in Toronto will continue to be a celebration for the Blue Jays. However winning the division and going deep into October, again, is not a given.

Here are the first month’s team power rankings, with some huge changes from the pre-season edition, which is always based on the previous season and the traditional spring mirages.

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1-Dodgers

’26 Opening Payroll: $390.5M (1)

Manager: Dave Roberts

SUMMARY: You always have to just shake your head. Dodger arrogance knows no bounds. They lose a game to the Rockies and hint that there must be cheating going on. They lose their closer Edwin Diaz and rumours begin about acquiring Padres closer Mason Miller. Hello! The Pads sincerely believe they can beat you.

ACTIVE POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: CF Andy Pages 25 … 2B Alex Freeland 24 … C Dalton Rushing 25

2-Padres

’26 Opening Payroll: $262.1 (6)

Manager: Craig Stammen (R)

SUMMARY: Rotation took a blow with injury to Nick Pivetta, but if the Pads get to the 9^th inning with a lead, Mason Miller makes sure it’s over. Great city, great ballpark, great chance to finish second again.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: CF Jackson Merrill 23

3-Yankees

’26 Opening Payroll: $333.2M (3)

Manager: Aaron Boone

SUMMARY: Bombers began the season on fire, but hit an 8-game speed bump. They are back on track now. The rotation cavalry is looming with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. Meanwhile a team with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton mid-order should never finish under .500.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Anthony Volpe 25

4-Braves

’26 Opening Payroll: $246.5 (8)

Manager: Walt Weiss

SUMMARY: This is the often dominant Braves performance that people thought they would get last year. Weiss brings a fresh approach to the dugout and DH Dom Smith has been a pleasant surprise. Ronald Acuna Jr and Austin Riley are huge.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: C Drake Baldwin 25 … CF Michael Harris II 25

5-Cubs

’26 Opening Payroll: $240.09M (9)

Manager: Craig Counsell

SUMMARY: The Cubs were off to a concerning start and did not reach above .500 until Game 19 on April 19, but now back on track in the best division in baseball, a five-team fact that nobody ever saw coming.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: DH Moises Ballesteros 23 … CF Pete Crow-Armstrong 23 … IF Matt Shaw 24

6-Reds

’26 Opening Payroll: $146.7M (19)

Manager: Terry Francona

SUMMARY: Feeling good for Tito Francona (friend of Griff’s The Pitch) and his quick start in the, suddenly, powerful NL Central. 1B Sal Stewart and SS Elly de la Cruz leading the way with eight homers each in the Great American Bandbox.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS de la Cruz 24 … 1B Stewart 22 … RF Rece Hinds 25

7-Brewers

’26 Opening Payroll: $129.1M (21)

Manager: Pat Murphy

SUMMARY: The Jays can surely confirm the Brewers if they wish to claim the title as kings of small-ball, a style of play necessary when you’re bottom third in team payroll. But bottom line is they are in the playoffs year-after-year.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: OF Jackson Chourio 22 … OF Luis Matos 24

8-Tigers

’26 Opening Payroll: $236.7M (10)

Manager: A.J. Hinch

SUMMARY: Tigers are built for this year and the immediate future with a lineup featuring just one 30-year-old and a pitching staff of well-paid veterans who have been there, done that, including Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez and CL Kenley Jansen.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Kevin McConigle 23 … 3B Colt Keith 25 … LF Riley Greene 25 … IF Hao-Yu Lee 23

9-Pirates

’26 Opening Payroll: $120.7M (22)

Manager: Don Kelly

SUMMARY: Pirates are doing a good job thus far in proving to their lone superstar Paul Skenes that they can be contenders, before he can demand to leave. But is it sustainable. After a brutal start to thew season, Oneil Cruz is showing all-star form.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Connor Griffin 20 … IF Nick Yorke 24

10-Cardinals

’26 Opening Payroll: $118.6 (24)

Manager: Oliver Marmol

SUMMARY: One of the youngest teams in terms of position players, this was expected to be a total rebuild year, but don’t tell the Cards’ clubhouse. Rotation reads like a firm of Buffalo Injury Attorneys.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: 2B JJ Wetherholt 24 … RF Jordan Walker 24 … SS Masyn Winn 24 … LF Nathan Church 25 … CF Victor Scott II 25 … IF Thomas Segese 24

11-Diamondbacks

’26 Opening Payroll: $186.3M (16)

Manager: Torey Lovullo

SUMMARY: Playoff won’t be easy once again playing in a division with Dodgers and Padres, but a talented, versatile offence led by Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte is a good place to start.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: RF Carroll 25 … DH Jose Fernandez 23 … OF Jorge Barrosa 25 … 1B Tyler Locklear 25 … OF Jordan Lawler 24

12-Rays

’26 Opening Payroll: $105.2M (27)

Manager: Kevin Cash

SUMMARY: Back playing in the worst ballpark in baseball after a year as reluctant tenants at Steinbrenner Field, the Rays rely on Junior Caminero, on team speed and a new crop of overachieving pitchers. Shane McClanahan returns after a full year off.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: LF Chandler Simpson 25 … 3B Junior Caminero 23 … IF Ben Williamson 25

13-Guardians

’26 Opening Payroll: $97.7M (29)

Manager: Stephen Vogt

SUMMARY: Jose Ramirez at age 33 is on pace for a 30HR-60SB season. Parker Messick flirted with a no-hitter two starts ago and combines with Gavin Williams atop a steady rotation. Stephen Vogt going for AL Manager-of-the-year hat trick.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: RF Chase de Lauter 24 … 1B Kyle Manzardo 25 … LG George Valens 25 … SS Brayan Rocchio 25 … IF Juan Brito 25 … OF Angel Martinez 24

14-Rangers

’26 Opening Payroll: $200.1M (14)

Manager: Skip Schumaker

SUMMARY: The trade for Brandon Nimmo, a rebound by Evan Carter and the continued development of Wyatt Langford give the Rangers one of the best outfields in the AL. Danny Jansen 15 starts and has thrown out 43% of base stealers.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: LF Langford 24 … CF Carter 24 … IF Cody Freeman 25

15-Orioles

’26 Opening Payroll: $201.5M (13)

Manager: Craig Albernaz (R)

SUMMARY: Rookie manager suffered a broken jaw in the dugout on a linedrive foul. He is forced to eat baby food while his team is taking baby steps to contention. Found a bonus in team RBI leader 2B Jeremiah Jackson, filling for injured Jackson Holliday.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Gunnar Henderson 25 … DH Dylan Beavers 25 … C Samuel Basallo 22 … 3B Coby Mayo 24 … 2B Holliday 22

16 Athletics

’26 Opening Payroll: $131.9M (20)

Manager: Mark Kotsay

SUMMARY: A’s want their contending team to be ready for the move to their future pleasure palace in Vegas. They look to be well on the way with players like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Lawrence Butler and more.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: 1B Kurtz 23 …LF Tyler Soderstrom 24 … SS Wilson 24 … 3B Max Muncy 24 … RF Butler 25 … IF Darrell Hernaiz 25

17-Mariners

’26 Opening Payroll: $181.2M (18)

Manager: Dan Wilson

SUMMARY: M’s rotation is still imposing but the offence has sputtered early. Big Dumper and Josh Naylor are both batting under .190 and have combined for just six homers. CDN Matt Brash with 9 shutout appearances in relief.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: CF Julio Rodriguez 25 … 2B Cole Young 23

18-Twins

’26 Opening Payroll: $119.2M (23)

Manager: Derek Shelton

SUMMARY: After trading away most of last year’s bullpen and losing starting ace Pablo Lopez to injury, not much was expected but they “wanna party like it’s 1991”. Taj Bradley has stepped up to head the rotation in his first full Twins season.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: 2B Luke Keaschall 24 … SS Brooks Lee 25

19-Blue Jays

’26 Opening Payroll: $300.3M (5)

Manager: John Schneider

SUMMARY: Thankfully flying under the radar with their fans as the first round of Stanley Cup playoffs unfold with three CDN teams alive, the Jays need to sort out the bullpen and welcome some healthy bodies back to the fold. Have $104.5M in payroll currently on the IL.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: C Brandon Valenzuela 25

20-Phillies

’26 Opening Payroll: $311.2M (4)

Manager: Rob Thomson

SUMMARY: Another Top 10 payroll team struggling to win games in April. Ace starter Zach Wheeler and dominant closer Jhoan Duran already on IL and will now be joined by all-star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: CF Justin Crawford 23 … IF Felix Reyes 25

21-Red Sox

’26 Opening Payroll: $256.1M (7)

Manager: Alex Cora

SUMMARY: Mix in a terrible version of Garret Crochet with an IL’d Sonny Gray and with being out-homered 30-13 by opponents and you have the ’26 Red Sox. Things will improve but for now they’re no better than 21 in the power rankings.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: LF Roman Anthony 22, CF Ceddanne Rafaela 25 … 2B Marcelo Mayer 23

22-Giants

’26 Opening Payroll: $223.6M (12)

Manager: Tony Vitello (R)

SUMMARY: You’re not in college, anymore, Coach Vitello. The former Tennessee Volunteers head coach and his (originally from New York) Giants are 1-6 at home vs. the current NYC teams, Yankees and Mets. Giants are in tough in a division led by the Dodgers, Padres and D’backs.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: OF Drew Gilbert 25 … C Daniel Susac 25

23-Marlins

’26 Opening Payroll: $78.1M (30)

Manager: Clayton McCullough

SUMMARY: The Fish have settled back into a losing record after an 8-5 start, but have a high development ceiling led by a trio of Canadian position players, C Liam Hicks, SS Otto Lopez and OF Owen Caissie (call them the RCM3). Nice to see former Cy guy Sandy Alcantara off to a solid start to his ‘26 season.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: CF Jakob Marsee 25 … C Agustin Ramirez 25 … OF Caissie 24 … IF Leo Jimenez 25 … IF Javier Sanoja 25 … 3B Graham Pauley 25

24-Angels

’26 Opening Payroll: $187.0M (15)

Manager: Kurt Suzuki (R)

SUMMARY: The resurgence of Mike Trout, the dominance of Jose Soriano, the athleticism of Jo Adell, the development of Zack Neto and maybe even the bench coaching of John Gibbons has made this an interesting Angels early season.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Neto 25 … 1B Nolan Schanuel 24 …IF Vaughn Grissom 25 … IF Oswald Peraza 25

25-Astros

’26 Opening Payroll: $228.2M (11)

Manager: Joe Espada

SUMMARY: Astros have a ridiculously high total of 16 players on the IL, including Hunter Brown, plus three other starting pitchers, their closer Josh Hader and all-star shortstop.Jeremy Pena. Thankfully, a healthy Yordan Alvarez with 11 HR, 26 RBIs and a 1.245 OPS is making a bid for MVP.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: RF Cam Smith 23 … OF Brice Matthews 24 … IF Zack Dezenzo 25

26-Mets

’26 Opening Payroll: $368.7M (2)

Manager: Carlos Mendoza

SUMMARY: The Dirty Dozen of Mets consecutive losses came to an end when Juan Soto returned to the lineup on Wednesday night, but that was balanced with an injury to Francisco Lindor (right calf strain) and the continued struggles of Bo Bichette.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: OF Carson Benge 23 … C Francisco Alvarez 24

27-Nationals

’26 Opening Payroll: $102.4M (28)

Manager: Blake Butera (R)

SUMMARY: The youngest front office in baseball is leaning on its young offence to lead them into the future. Pitching is a problem, with a Team ERA of 5.65. How bad? Conside that they felt a need to add LHP Dick Lovelady for a second go-round. That is all we need to know.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: RF James Wood 24 … 3B Brady House 23 … SS CJ Abrams 25 … LF Daylen Lile 23 … 2B Nasim Nunez 25 … DH Jose Tena 25 … IF Curtis Mead 25 … IF Jorbit Vivas 25

28-Royals

’26 Opening Payroll: $181.7M (17)

Manager: Matt Quatraro

SUMMARY: The Royals were one of the trendy picks to take the next step, building off of last year’s 82 wins. Team ended an 8-game losing streak recently, but don’t blame consistent, veteran starters Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. Vinnie Pasquantino has struggled coming off his WBC celebrity and success.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Bobby Witt Jr 25 … DH Carter Jensen 23 … RF Jac Caglianone 23

29-White Sox

’26 Opening Payroll: $105.2M (26)

Manager: Will Venable

SUMMARY: This team has nowhere to go but up. Have made off season moves to be better, with the best Japanese signing of 2026 being 1B Munetaka Murakami. The Team ERA of 5.12 needs to improve for them to move up in the rankings. But they are young and trying to get better.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: SS Colson Montgomery 24 … RF Everson Pereira 25 … LF Sam Antonacci 25 … C Edgar Quero 23 … 2B Chase Meidroth 25 … CF Luisangel Acuna 21 … C Kyle Teel 24 … OF Brooks Baldwin 25

30-Rockies

’26 Opening Payroll: $105.3M (25)

Manager: Warren Schaefer

SUMMARY: Rox have showed six pitchers make more than one start in the first month and the youngest was 29-years-old, with an average age of 33.5. At Mile High altitude, the toughest part of a Rockies build is attracting and keeping young pitchers. Add to that, they are in tough with other division opponents in the NL West.

POSITION PLAYERS 25 OR YOUNGER: 1B TJ Rumfield 25 … SS Ezequiel Tover 25 … 3B Kyle Karros 24 … OF Jordan Beck 24

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Today is being celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day throughout Major League Baseball. This is the 79th anniversary of the day that, Jackie, the most important, courageous, ground-breaking, Hall-of-Fame pioneer made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As such, I am pleased to share this column I wrote in recognition of this historic anniversary, last year, April 15, 2025.

I regret that I never was able to meet and shake Jackie Robinson’s hand before he passed away on Oct. 24, 1972, losing a long battle that many believe was related to the stress and diabetes that had combined to shorten his Hall-of-Fame career. Robinson had just delivered to the baseball world, weeks before, in Cincinnati, an impassioned World Series interview at Riverfront Stadium, talking about how far the game had obviously come since he made his debut 26 years earlier, but also how far it had to go, especially with regard to the hiring of African-American managers, of which there were none, at the time.

But despite never meeting the man, I was fortunate enough in 1996, as Toronto Star columnist, to meet, shake hands and interview his widow, then 74-year-old, Rachel Robinson, in the lobby of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, sitting down for a lengthy session in support of my feature, a 50-year celebration of his accomplishments, his one season with the Montreal Royals in 1946. I found myself mesmerized by her charisma, magnetism and the power of her personality.

That encounter with Mrs. Robinson remains in my experience as the most impressive person I have spoken to or interviewed in 54 years as a PR person and columnist. Rachel Robinson recently celebrated her 103^rd birthday and is still a vital part of their Foundation, providing youth education opportunities.

Back in ‘96, Rachel was in Montreal for dedication of a statue featuring Jackie, reaching out his hand to children, that the Expos had commissioned at the site of Delorimier Downs, home of the Royals. Montreal had played a major role in the pioneering Robinson journey. He had previewed the first season of his Dodgers’ tenure with the Triple-A Royals, in 1946. In addition, he was an invited CBC TV analyst for a handful of games in 1972, alongside Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Dave Van Horne. However, I missed those moments, as I did not begin my MLB career with the Expos until Opening Day of 1973.

The Montreal Royals season for Robinson was a key tranche of Dodgers’ president Branch Rickey’s plan to integrate “America’s pastime”. He knew about Montreal, that despite any flaws in its historical ranking of social acceptance, this was the best chance to ease his man into the firmament of certain racist resistance to the re-integration of the game that was to come.

Now, rest assured, we are aware there remains an ugly undercurrent of racism throughout North America, that is even more apparent now, perpetrated and encouraged by those that see this despicable behaviour from their leaders.

Montreal was never exempt from that behaviour … but still better than most. Back in ’96, as part of my research, I interviewed the late jazz pianist Charlie Biddle in the nightclub that bore his name. When I let him know the theme I was addressing, he began a slow burn. His dissent, his negative attitude towards my premise included mistreatment of athletes like the hockey pioneer, Willie O’Ree and others that had never made it but that Charlie insisted were equal victims of the quietly racist pro sports fraternity in which he grew up and then lived.

From a personal standpoint, still on that ’96 trip of enlightenment, I observed an example of the quiet attitude that Biddle insisted was still there. It was so subtle it may have been overlooked in other circumstance. The statue dedication press conference was about to get underway in a conference room of the Queen E. I was standing at the back as a reporter. It had been a long day for Rachel as she quietly asked a hotel employee for a glass of water. He shushed her and said the program was about to begin. Moments later, the president’s wife, as he was beginning his turn at the podium, in praise of Jackie, asked that same hotel employee for a glass of wine. He retreated and came back with what I assume was their finest white.

On April 15, all 30 MLB teams celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. In ‘26, this is the 79^th anniversary of his debut at Ebbets Field, in Brooklyn, with Dodgers president Branch Rickey as the architect of an opening day move that ended the sport’s disgraceful, unofficial 20^th Century colour barrier. The couple had been married in California in 1945 in order to begin this lifetime journey together. Rachel was 23-years-old during that historic ’46 season with the Royals.

In past interviews, Mrs. Robinson called Montreal “Heaven on earth.” Without the success of that season, in a city that respected Jackie and Rachel’s privacy, allowing them to regroup between racist body blows in their adopted hometown. It allowed Jackie to take a deep breath, to feel that Rachel was safe when the team was on the road and to feel respected when the team was playing at home, always with an understanding of what they would be up against in the majors. Baseball’s Noble Experiment, might have ended in failure and set the American Civil Rights Movement back for years, if not for the subtle success of Montreal.

Rickey chose Robinson as his man because he believed he had the necessary courage “not” to fight back and the necessary baseball skills to be an all-star. In that one season in Montreal, Jackie hit .349, with 113 runs, 66 RBIs, 25 doubles, eight triples, three homers and 40 steals. He was named International League MVP.

Among the incidents the Royals 27-year-old second baseman endured, was a black cat thrown onto the field in from of the Royals dugout in Syracuse, plus the visitors clubhouse in Baltimore, located as a separate building in deep right field, being surrounded by fans yelling they would lynch Robinson because of a hard slide in the game. They crowd dispersed well after midnight. It should be noted that one of the few teammates to remain with Jackie and confront the AAA-Orioles fans was Al Campanis, who went on to become Dodgers GM. Of course, there were hotels that would not let him stay. restaurants that would not let him eat and countless racial slurs being thrown from the minor-league stands and opposing dugouts.

There is no doubt the Dodgers’ icon is the Most Important Player in major-league history. Certainly, Babe Ruth saved the sport from the gambling crisis of the 1919 World Series, famously labelled the Black Sox Scandal. Cal Ripken’s relentless work ethic and consecutive games played streak saved the game’s reputation coming out of the great strike of ‘94, but Robinson’s contribution in 1947 and beyond was more societal. He was MLB’s vehicle for breaking the unwritten colour barrier that had existed since the late 19^th century via a wink-and-a-nod agreement among major-league owners to keep players of obvious colour excluded.

The arrival of Robinson to the NL and of Larry Doby to the Indians in the AL, wasn’t a Road to Damascus enlightening moment for every owner. The integration of the game was gradual. Consider, it took until 1959 before the Red Sox fielded its first black player, utility third-baseman Pumpsie Green.

Fenway Park, after all, had been the place where on April 16, 1945, while still with the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs, Jackie Robinson was offered a tryout in Boston. As he went through his paces, a voice from the deep shadows of the stands, back in the ballpark’s lower deck yelled “Get the N--- off the field.” Who was that? It should be noted that only team employees were in the ballpark at that time.

So, let’s celebrate how far pro sports has come, but also acknowledge how far society has to go. Hopefully players that choose to wear the No. 42 jerseys for Wednesday’s games, understand the significance and feel the responsibility to the man that they honour.

Here’s to you Jackie and here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson.

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Somehow, it doesn’t seem fair that dogs are estimated to live seven human years for every 12-month calendar year. That being understood, we know that we share this emotion, this grief, with many others that have gone through the same heartache of losing “man’s best friend”. Dogs feel the love and, yes, are affected by every other human emotion we show them, so make sure to make every living moment precious. Because of that, ungodly 7-to-1 miscalculation, most of us, with our four-legged best friends have gone through similar feelings of loss. Yes, we share your pain.

Our pain is still fresh, our emotions raw. Looking back to our first encounter with our youngest/oldest child/pet, it’s clear he had me at hello. No, Debbie and I weren’t planning on finding another dog so soon after we lost our previous pup, Gordy, but two months after that grieving portion of our heart was ripped out, we happened to be driving past a shopping plaza in north Oakville, where a sign alerted us that they were hosting a sidewalk availability for rescue dogs, ready for immediate adoption.

There were a dozen dogs spread out in front of the stores on the sidewalk in cages. All of them were rescues brought in from the U.S. The hopeful dogs were all different sizes, shapes, temperaments, and breeds. How on earth should one ever be expected to decide which of them, if any, is right for your family?

It turns out this choosing process was not as difficult as it may have appeared. The air, as we approached, was filled with a cacophony of barking dogs, seemingly well rehearsed, as the dozen hopeful animals in their undersized cages took turns, to the point of being scripted, creating a symphony of homeless canine confusion.

In the middle of this sidewalk scene was only one non-participating dog, in a cage, sitting quietly, seemingly far from the madding howls. He stood out by sitting out. His cage was far too small and Debbie asked the woman hosting the event if she could open the cage and we could meet this lonely beagle. Even though the cage was a standard open grill, the pup strolled from his tiny prison, blinking like Papillon emerging into sunlight from months in solitary (movie of the same name).

The puppy, tail wagging furiously, walked over to me, looked up, locked eyes, stood on his hind legs and wrapped himself around my calf, uttering nary a word not a sound. I asked the host what his name was. “Kramer,” she said. It was ov-uhh! For a Seinfeld-raised family, that was it. I walked quickly across the mall parking lot towards a random bank, withdrew the requested money for the rescue group and headed back to complete the adoption. Welcome to the family, Kramer Griffin.

Kramer’s back-story for the first seven years of his life, before Aug. ‘18 when we lucked out and he joined us, was not an easy upbringing. He had been discovered by the rescue people discarded in a dumpster in Kentucky. His front teeth were all gone, worn down. They say it was likely by gnawing at the steel bars of the cage trying to escape, the cage in which he was kept for much of his earlier life. Later, when his usefulness to his former owners was over, he was dumped, literally.

Given that difficult backwoods background, Kramer might have been forgiven for being distrustful, or snarly with strangers and other dogs in the neighbourhood. Instead, Kramer, from Day 1, was affectionate with everyone he met, including other dogs, young children, cats, rabbits, squirrels and all other wildlife or humans that he encountered on his thrice daily walks. He was keenly aware of his schedule.

Kramer was a creature of affectionate habit, with physical limitations that sometimes frustrated him. At an ideal fighting weight of 35-45 lbs., he found with alarm as he aged that he could no longer jump up on our bed, so we quickly bought him a wooden stairway that he learned to navigate like a Wallenda over Niagara Falls.

His nightly habit was the same. After his final evening walk, Kramer would make his way slowly up the real stairs from the main floor to bedroom, climbing his own stairs onto the bed, then he would go and slyly lie next to the pillows in my spot. He did this with a certainty that when I came up later, I would give him a treat to regain my spot, so as soon as I reached into the treat bag, he would slowly lift himself up and go make tight circles and lie down at the bottom of the bed.

Kramer was almost deaf, almost blind, but never dumb. To follow up on this Who reference, I’m sure if given a chance, he could have played a mean pinball.

We had moved to Stoney Creek last October and after a long cold winter, the neighbourhood kids, as weather warmed, were just getting to know and to seek a daily audience with their new friend, Kramer. Now, those kids, our four adult children and, especially, Debbie and I will miss Kramer forever. RIP beagle boy.

Meanwhile, life goes on and Griff’s The Pitch attention turns back to the Blue Jays as they continue on their six-game losing streak, hosting Shohei and the Dodgers in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.

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