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Varland recorded his eighth save of the season in Thursday's win over the Orioles, allowing one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings. He didn't record a strikeout.
The 28-year-old right-hander entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning and saw catcher Brandon Valenzuela pick off Pete Alonso at first base to close out the frame. Varland allowed a one-out single to Leody Taveras in the ninth, but he'd close the door on an O's comeback by getting Jackson Holliday to ground out. Varland has gone 8-for-8 in save chances this season while sporting a pristine 0.30 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through 27 appearances (30 innings). He's also on a run of 14 straight outings without allowing an earned run dating back to April 26.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Earns two-inning save
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Varland earned the save in Friday's 6-2 win over the Pirates, striking out three without allowing a baserunner over two scoreless innings.
Varland was called on to protect a 3-1 lead with two men on and no outs in the eighth inning and escaped the jam while allowing one inherited runner to score. He then returned for the ninth after the Blue Jays tacked on three more runs and retired the side once again. It marked the second time the 28-year-old has logged two frames in his past four outings, and he's now yielded just two earned runs through 25 appearances this season. Overall, he's 7-for-7 in save chances with a 0.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB across 27.2 innings.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Hangs on for sixth save
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Varland secured the save Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing one run on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Varland did allow the potential tying run to get aboard, but he was able to hold on by striking out Amed Rosario to end the game. It was the first time the right-hander yielded an earned run since his April 25 outing versus Cleveland, as he's been mostly exceptional since overtaking Jeff Hoffman as Toronto's closer. Varland has permitted only a pair of earned runs through 25.2 innings this year, posting a 1.17 WHIP and 37:9 K:BB while converting each of his six save opportunities.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Nabs win in extras
Rotowire
Varland (2-1) picked up the win in Saturday's 2-1 extra-inning victory over the Tigers, allowing two hits and striking out two over two scoreless innings.
Entering a tie game in the ninth inning, Varland gave up a couple singles but prevented Detroit from walking it off, and the right-hander remained on the mound after Toronto pushed across a run in the top of the 10th. Varland has reeled off nine straight appearances without giving up an earned run, and he sports a dazzling 0.38 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 34:9 K:BB over 23.2 innings on the season while converting all five of his save chances since taking over as the Jays' closer.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Nails down fifth save
Rotowire
Varland pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Angels.
Varland was called upon to finish off a team shutout in the ninth inning and did so on just 11 pitches. The 28-year-old has now converted all five of his save chances, solidifying himself as the clear favorite for save chances in Toronto. He's been stellar this season, allowing just one earned run while posting a 1.07 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 19.2 innings.
Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Dominates BoSox for fourth save
Rotowire
Varland collected his fourth save of the season in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Red Sox, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.
The Blue Jays called on Varland for the save opportunity for a fourth consecutive time. The 28-year-old right-hander didn't disappoint, getting each batter he faced to strike out swinging while tossing 13 strikes on 15 pitches. Varland has recorded two strikeouts or more in four of his last five outings and sits with a 0.56 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB across 16 innings this season. He's Toronto's clear closer, though Jeff Hoffman didn't have a bad night himself either, striking out two batters while earning a hold for his efforts in the seventh inning.
Varland earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Guardians, allowing one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Varland gave up a leadoff single to Chase DeLauter to start the ninth before rebounding to set down the next three Guardians, including back-to-back strikeouts of Steven Kwan and Angel Martinez. Varland looks to have earned the primary closing job in Toronto, as he's converted three straight save chances for the Jays. The right-hander has certainly earned the opportunity, posting a sparkling 0.60 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB through his first 15 innings this season.
Varland recorded his second save of the season in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and a walk in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Getting his first save chance after Toronto manager John Schneider officially announced that Jeff Hoffman would no longer be viewed as the team's primary closer, Varland seemed to buckle under the pressure, throwing 19 of 30 pitches for strikes as he gave up his first earned run of 2026. The right-hander kept his focus, however, and fanned Bo Naylor and Brayan Rocchio to end the threat. Varland still sports a 0.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB through 14 innings, but a repeat of Saturday's performance might encourage Schneider to give other relievers a look in the ninth.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Enters closer committee
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Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins announced Friday that Varland will be part of Toronto's closer committee with Jeff Hoffman being demoted as the club's primary closer, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Hoffman, who recorded 37 saves during the 2025 regular season, could still get some usage in the ninth inning, but Varland now appears to be the favorite for saves in Toronto. The right-hander's fantasy upside is still likely to be more limited than a traditional closer, however, with the Blue Jays expected to mix in other relievers for saves in addition to Varland and Hoffman. That being said, Varland has yet to allow an earned run and has a 19:3 K:BB across 13 innings this season, so he could take full reins of the job if he continues that level of dominance.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Saves Toronto after Hoffman's dud
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Varland collected the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Angels, needing just one pitch to collect the final two outs of the ninth inning.
Jeff Hoffman got the call to protect the team's 4-1 lead in the ninth. However, Hoffman's control was all over the place, as he hit two batters and gave up two hits, allowing one run while recording just one out. That prompted Blue Jays manager John Schneider to quickly turn to Varland to get out of a bases-loaded jam, and the right-hander saved the day on just one pitch by getting Nolan Schanuel to ground out into a double play. It was the first save of Varland's career, and the 28-year-old has yet to give up an earned run across 12.2 innings this season. It appears Hoffman's grip on the Blue Jays' closing job is slipping.
Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Brilliant in setup role again
Rotowire
Varland struck out three over 1.1 perfect innings Monday to record his third hold of the season in a 5-2 win over the Angels.
The right-hander has been the Blue Jays' best reliever through the first month of the season, producing a 0.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and dominant 19:3 K:BB through 12.1 innings while allowing just one hit so far on his high-90s four-seamer. Jeff Hoffman righted the ship a bit in Monday's win, striking out the side himself in the ninth while picking up his third save, but the Toronto closer's job security remains low given his three blown saves, 6.97 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. If Hoffman does get removed from the ninth, Varland has positioned himself to be the next man up in save situations.
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