The Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff is excelling despite all its injuries

The Blue Jays’ offense carried the team to the World Series, but expectations shifted toward pitching in 2025 after offseason and returning players. Spring training depth was undermined by injuries, including season-ending ACL surgery for Cody Ponce, forearm fatigue sidelining Shane Bieber, Tommy John surgery for Jose Berrios, and injuries affecting Max Scherzer and Trey Yesavage’s delayed debut. The bullpen also faced setbacks with Yimi Garcia recovering from elbow surgery and other relievers landing on the injured list. Despite these issues, Blue Jays pitchers performed well early in the season, ranking 10th in MLB ERA, fifth in FIP, and third in strikeouts. Starters ranked fourth in AL ERA and second in FIP, led by Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and a breakout from Patrick Corbin. The bullpen was less consistent, though Braydon Fisher, Tyler Rogers, and Louis Varland pitched effectively, while blow-up outings from Jeff Hoffman and Brendon Little contributed to some of the damage.

"The club opened spring training with an enviable amount of depth on paperthen the injuries came. Cody Ponce suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the third inning of his first start. Bieber has been sidelined since February with forearm fatigue. Jose Berrios is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Max Scherzer is hurt. Yesavage didn't make his season debut until the end of April while recovering from a shoulder issue."

"How does the Blue Jays' pitching compare to the rest of the league? Blue Jays pitchers entered Monday ranked 10th in MLB in ERA (3.83), fifth in FIP (3.58), and third in total strikeouts (493). Only the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers have gotten more fWAR from their pitchers."

"The starting rotation has done much of the heavy lifting, ranking fourth in the AL in ERA and second in FIP behind only the Yankees. Cease, Yesavage, and Kevin Gausman have been tremendous, while Patrick Corbin has emerged as a surprising contributor."

"The bullpen hasn't been quite as successful overall, but the core piecesmainly Braydon Fisher, Tyler Rogers, and Louis Varlandhave pitched exceptionally well. A large chunk of the runs the pen has allowed are attributable to blow-up outings from Jeff Hoffman and Brendon Little before the latter was demoted to the minor leagues."

Read at jaysjournal.com