MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider labeled Rodriguez as a candidate to start Friday's game against the Mets at Citi Field, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

With Toronto's ideal five-man rotation at full health heading into Opening Day, Rodriguez missed out on a starting spot and made his season debut out of the bullpen in Thursday's 12-2 loss to the Orioles, giving up three earned runs on three hits and one walk over one inning. Despite the poor showing, Rodriguez could move into the rotation next weekend after Max Scherzer aggravated a thumb injury in Saturday's 9-5 loss to Baltimore and was subsequently placed on the injured list. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer is scheduled to visit a hand specialist Monday, when a timeline for the right-hander's return should come into focus. Rodriguez would be in line for at least two turns though the rotation while Scherzer is on the shelf.

The Blue Jays designated Lovelady for assignment Sunday.

Lovelady attended spring training as a non-roster invitee and was able to win a spot in Toronto's Opening Day bullpen, but his stay with the big club didn't last long. He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster and in the bullpen to lefty Mason Fluharty, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Lovelady's dismissal comes after he gave up four earned runs on two hits, two walks and three hit batsmen over 1.2 innings between his first two relief appearances of the season.

The Blue Jays selected Fluharty's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

The 23-year-old southpaw will work out of the Toronto bullpen and will likely be limited to low-leverage duties, at least initially. Fluharty spent the entire 2024 season at Buffalo, turning in a 3.63 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 76:25 K:BB in 67 innings.

Wagner will start at third base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Wagner has filled an everyday role to begin the season, making two starts at the hot corner and two at designated hitter. Through his first three games, Wagner has gone 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles and one run. The Blue Jays are still likely to shield the lefty-hitting Wagner from opposing southpaws, but he could hold down a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handers while he's wielding a hot bat.

Clement is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Clement will be on the bench for the second time in the four-game series while Will Wagner fills in for him at third base. Though the right-handed-hitting Clement should be a regular part of the lineup versus left-handed pitching, he could be more of a part-time option at third base.

Narvaez made his first start of the season and went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Texas.

Boston hitters failed to deliver the first 11 times they came to the plate with runners in scoring position before Narvaez broke the fever with an eighth-inning single. The veteran beat out Seby Zavala this spring to be the backup to Connor Wong at catcher.

Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Kirk will receive a breather Sunday as the Blue Jays and Orioles wrap up their season-opening series with an afternoon game. Tyler Heineman will step in behind the plate in place of Kirk, who started at catcher in each of the first three games versus Baltimore while going 2-for-11 with an RBI and a run.

The Blue Jays recalled Lucas from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

Lucas had been scheduled to start for Buffalo on Sunday, but he'll instead join the Blue Jays to provide some length out of the bullpen. Max Scherzer (thumb) was placd on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move, but the Blue Jays are likely to turn to Yariel Rodriguez rather than Lucas to fill the opening in the rotation.

Casas recorded his first hit of the season Saturday, going 1-for-5 in a 4-3 loss to Texas.

It's been a rough start to the season for Casas, who went 10 at-bats before recording his first hit with a fifth-inning single. He's 1-for-13 with six strikeouts, including one that ended Saturday's loss.

The Blue Jays placed Scherzer on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right thumb inflammation.

Per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca, Scherzer's early removal from his start Saturday against the Orioles was attributed to right lat soreness, but the veteran right-hander said after the outing that his exit was related to the thumb injury that had been troubling him since spring training. The Blue Jays apparently concurred with Scherzer's assessment and are now listing him solely with the thumb injury. He'll be shut down for at least two weeks in hopes that the extended rest will resolve the issue. Toronto recalled left-hander Easton Lucas from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move to offer some extra coverage in the bullpen, but Yariel Rodriguez figures to get the first crack at filling Scherzer's spot in the rotation.