Blue Jays closer has been better than you think for the last month and proved it in series clincher

"Hoffman has had a rollercoaster of a season. His early hot start to establish himself as the Blue Jays closer diminished in the summer with erratic appearances and blown saves. Hoffman finished the regular season with 33 saves in 40 attempts with an ERA of 4.37. What would be more alarming is allowing 15 home runs, the most by a closer in 2025."

"Before he pitched that Sunday, Hoffman's ERA was at 5.11, allowing 32 earned runs in 56.1 innings. By that point, he lost the trust of most Blue Jays fans after he was unable to find his location and left too many pitches over the heart of the plate. In the final game of the series against the Brewers, Hoffman allowed just two hits with no earned runs and a strikeout. It would only be the beginning of an incredible September."

"Since August 31st, Hoffman has allowed only seven hits, one earned run, and has put up an ERA of 0.77. To emphasize his ERA, Hoffman led the way in ERA among Blue Jays relievers with a minimum of 10 appearances. After being lights out in Game 1 against the New York Yankees, despite the earned run in the ninth inning of Game 3, Hoffman continued to get out of his jams, including this clutch bases-loaded situation in the eighth."

Jeff Hoffman experienced a volatile 2025 season, converting 33 saves in 40 chances but surrendering 15 home runs and posting a 4.37 ERA. A midseason slump raised his ERA to 5.11 and undermined fan confidence due to poor location and blown appearances. On August 31 he rebounded, allowing two hits and no earned runs, kickstarting a September in which he allowed seven hits and one earned run with a 0.77 ERA. He led Blue Jays relievers (min. 10 appearances) in ERA and closed key postseason situations, including a strikeout to clinch an ALCS berth.

Read at Jays Journal