Varsho went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Yankees.
Varsho opened the scoring with a two-run shot off Marcus Stroman in the second inning before extending Toronto's lead to 3-1 with a second homer off left-hander Caleb Ferguson in the seventh. The 27-year-old Varsho has heated up after a slow start to the year, going 8-for-25 (.320) with four homers in his last eight games. Overall, he's slashing .218/.295/.473 through his first 61 plate appearances this season.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Better against Yankees
Rotowire
Gausman did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing a run on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out six.
It was certainly a step in the right direction for Gausman, who'd allowed 11 runs over just four innings in his previous two outings. The right-hander held New York scoreless until Juan Soto's two-out RBI double in the fifth inning. Overall, Gausman is 0-2 on the year with a still-rough 8.16 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB across four starts (14.1 innings). He'll look to build on Wednesday's effort in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week in Kansas City.
Green was unavailable for Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Yankees due to shoulder soreness, but manager John Schneider hopes the right-hander will be good to go Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Green's pop-up injury hindered him from entering the game, where the Blue Jays could have used some relief help as they allowed five runs in four innings after starting pitcher Kevin Gausman exited. The veteran reliever could be ready to pitch Friday as Toronto takes on the Padres in San Diego.
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Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Retreats to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Kiner-Falefa will get a breather after he made starts at either third base or second base in each of Toronto's last five games. Cavan Biggio will get the nod at the hot corner Wednesday while Davis Schneider mans the keystone.
Blue Jays' Davis Schneider: Making first start at second base
Rotowire
Schneider will start at second base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game versus the Yankees.
Schneider has made three prior appearances at second base this season, but he'll be making his first start at the position in 2024. It's his ninth start overall, with the first eight coming in left field. Schneider has collected a .752 OPS with two home runs in 37 plate appearances this season.
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Blue Jays' Danny Jansen: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Jansen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Jansen is being eased back into action following his return from the injured list Monday, as he's now started just one of three games since being activated. Alejandro Kirk will handle the catching duties in Wednesday's series finale.
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Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Swipes bag Tuesday
Rotowire
Clement went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Yankees.
Getting the start at third base and batting seventh, Clement delivered his second straight multi-hit performance and fourth of the season. The 28-year-old utility player predictably hasn't been able to match his blistering spring now that the games count, but he's become a useful part of Toronto's mix-and-match infield, batting .289 (11-for-38) with three doubles, a homer, a steal, two RBI and eight runs while making appearances at third base (nine), shortstop (four), second base (one) and even left field (one).
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Blue Jays' Jordan Romano: Notches save in season debut
Rotowire
Romano gave up one run on one hit plus a hit by pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Yankees.
Making his first appearance of 2024 after beginning the year on the IL due to elbow inflammation, Romano wasn't quite his usual dominant self, but his velocity was fine - he topped out at 97.6 mph with his fastball - and he was able to get the job done. The right-hander has produced 36 saves in each of the last two seasons, and he has a secure hold on the closer role in Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Yusei Kikuchi: Sharp in Tuesday's win
Rotowire
Kikuchi (1-1) picked up the win Tuesday in a 5-4 victory over the Yankees, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out nine.
The left-hander struck out Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in the top of the first inning, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Kikuchi fired 62 of 94 strikes as he recorded his second straight quality start, and he fanned nine in each of those outings. He'll take a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB through 21.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come early next week in Kansas City.
Biggio is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.
Biggio is in the midst of a nine-game hit streak during which he has a .902 OPS, but he'll take a seat Tuesday as lefty Carlos Rodon pitches for New York. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will shift to the keystone while Ernie Clement starts at third base.
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Blue Jays' Mitch White: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
White was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
White had permitted six earned runs with a 6:4 K:BB across 10 innings in a long-relief role for the Jays. The 29-year-old holds just a career 4.99 ERA over 62 appearances (22 starts) at the big-league level, but with an ability to serve as rotation and/or bullpen depth, it's possible there will be some interest via trade or waivers.
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Blue Jays' Nate Pearson: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
Pearson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
This is simply a case of the fact Pearson has options left working against him, as he's been outstanding this season with a 9:3 K:BB over 6.1 shutout innings out of Toronto's bullpen. He will be back soon enough.
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Blue Jays' Erik Swanson: Rejoins Toronto bullpen
Rotowire
Swanson (forearm) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Swanson got a late start to the season because of right forearm inflammation but has been cleared to return following three rehab appearances. He is in line for a setup role in the Blue Jays' bullpen, although it's possible he'll be eased back into high-leverage situations.
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Blue Jays' Jordan Romano: Activated Tuesday, as expected
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Romano (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Romano recently completed a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo and is ready to make his season debut after missing the first few weeks of the season with elbow inflammation. The 30-year-old righty recorded 36 saves in each of the past two seasons, and manager John Schneider indicated Romano will immediately reclaim the closer role now that he's healthy, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca.
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Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Likely to lose work to Jansen
Rotowire
Kirk is expected to move to the bench for Tuesday's game against the Yankees and will likely lose out on starts to Danny Jansen (wrist), who was reinstated from the injured list Monday, ESPN.com reports.
Between wins over the Rockies on Sunday and Yankees on Monday, Kirk reached base seven times, but he's still put together an underwhelming .200/.293/.220 slash line through 58 plate appearances while operating as the Blue Jays' primary backstop so far this season. Though Jansen remained on the bench Monday, he's on track to make his season debut Tuesday and looks poised to handle the larger portion of a timeshare behind the plate with Kirk. Jansen is the more polished defender of the two, and though Kirk has an All-Star appearance and Silver Slugger on his resume, he's been a slightly below league-average hitter since the start of the 2023 season (91 wRC+, .301 wOBA over 480 plate appearances).
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Blue Jays' Danny Jansen: Likely to debut Tuesday
Rotowire
Jansen (wrist) is expected to join the Toronto lineup and make his season debut in Tuesday's game against the Yankees, ESPN.com reports.
After missing the first two and a half weeks of the season while recovering from a fractured right wrist suffered in a March 13 spring training game, Jansen was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday. He didn't play in Monday's series-opening 3-1 victory, however, as Alejandro Kirk drew the nod behind the plate and went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Though Kirk has now reached base seven times over the Blue Jays' last two games, he's still slashing an ugly .200/.293/.220 through 58 plate appearances. Given that he's regarded as the superior defender of the two catchers and in light of Kirk's struggles at the dish, Jansen is expected to emerge as the Blue Jays' No. 1 backstop now that he's healthy.
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Blue Jays' George Springer: Snags third steal
Rotowire
Springer went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Monday's win over the Yankees.
The 34-year-old outfielder stole a career-high 20 bases in 2023, and he's off and running again to begin the current campaign. Springer has three steals in three attempts so far, with all three coming in the last six games. While his .215 batting average (14-for-65) is disappointing, his 11:10 BB:K suggests it's a product of bad luck, not a bad approach at the plate. Springer's added two homers, four RBI and nine runs in 17 games as Toronto's leadoff hitter.
