Pearson gave up three runs on three hits over 2.1 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The flame-throwing right-hander entered the game to begin the fifth inning and quickly dispatched the bottom of the Yankees' order, but he gave up three straight hits to kick off the sixth, capped by a monster shot down the right-field line by Joey Gallo. Pearson is still being stretched out as a starter in camp and has an impressive 6:1 K:BB through 4.1 innings, but the Yusei Kikuchi signing seems to block any chance he had of beginning the season in the rotation. It's not yet clear whether the Blue Jays intend to option Pearson down to Triple-A Buffalo and let him build up innings or use him in the big-league bullpen in a multi-inning role.