Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Kicking off bullpen day in Game 4
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Varland is slated to serve as the Blue Jays' opening pitcher Wednesday for Game 4 of the ALDS versus the Yankees, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays are expected to rely on their bullpen to get through Wednesday's contest, and the team will officially turn to Varland to collect the first several outs. The 27-year-old turned in a 4.94 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 23.2 frames in the regular season after joining Toronto at the trade deadline. He's pitched in each of the first three games of the series versus New York, yielding two earned runs on three hits while striking out three over 2.2 innings.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Starting bullpen game
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Varland will start Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Varland has turned in a 5.66 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 20.2 innings since being traded to Toronto, and the Jays will now see how he fares in a new role. The 27-year-old righty began his career working primarily as a starter with the Twins, though he will likely only remain in Thursday's game for an inning or two before turning things over to the bullpen.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Acquired by Toronto
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The Blue Jays acquired Varland and Ty France from the Twins on Thursday in exchange for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Varland has worked as a full-time reliever this season for the first time in his professional career, and he's transitioned to the role flawlessly with a 2.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 47:13 K:BB across 49 innings. The right-hander should be in the high-leverage mix for Toronto but isn't likely to be a consistent candidate for saves.
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Twins' Louis Varland: Likely to win bullpen role
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Varland is expected to make the Twins' major-league roster as a reliever, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. He's thrown nine scoreless innings with a 5:2 K:BB ratio this spring.
Manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't confirmed the move to the bullpen in an attempt to keep his options open, but Varland hasn't been building up innings to work as a starter this spring. The right-hander struggled last season as a starter in Triple-A with a 4.75 ERA. As a reliever in the majors during 2023, he showed promise with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings and a 17:1 K:BB. Varland could soon be in the high-leverage mix due to a fastball that can touch triple digits.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Likely to move to bullpen
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Varland is likely to work as a reliever this spring and try to win a spot in the bullpen, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. "It's very possible that we see a good amount of him out of the bullpen this year," manager Rocco Baldelli said.
However, Baldelli did say the move to the bullpen wasn't certain. If Varland is kept as a starter, he'd likely begin the season in the minors. He struggled last season as a starter in Triple-A with a 4.75 ERA. As a reliever in 2023 in the majors, he showed promise with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings and a 17:1 K:BB. If he claims a spot in the major-league bullpen, Varland could be in the high-leverage mix due to a fastball that can touch triple digits.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Recalled, should work in bulk relief
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The Twins recalled Varland from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Ronny Henriquez will draw the starting assignment for the Twins in Wednesday's game at Tampa Bay, but he's expected to work an inning or two before giving way to Varland, who will likely be deployed in bulk relief, per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. A decent showing Wednesday could be enough for Varland to stick around with the Twins as part of a six-man rotation. The Twins have just two days off over the final 26 days of the regular season, so the addition of Varland would help provide extra rest for the team's other starters heading into the playoffs.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Could start Wednesday for big club
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Varland may be a candidate for a promotion from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the opening in the Twins rotation Wednesday at Tampa Bay, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The Twins already have a five-man rotation in place, but manager Rocco Baldelli is presumably keen on building in an extra day of rest for the team's starters while Minnesota is in the midst of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days. While Varland should eventually settle into a bullpen role for Minnesota in September, the Twins' decision not to call him up Sunday when the active roster expanded to 28 men suggests he's being ticketed for a start Wednesday. Varland owns a 1.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 39:13 K:BB in 32.2 innings over his last six outings for St. Paul but has largely struggled during his time in the big leagues with a 4.91 ERA across 124.2 career innings.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Used as reliever
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Varland threw five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a relief appearance Wednesday for Triple-A St. Paul. It was his first relief appearance in the minors this season.
Varland was an impact reliever late last season and into the playoffs for the Twins, but was moved back to the rotation this year. The Twins have said they're contemplating moving him to the bullpen for similar usage this season, so this outing could be the first step to using him in the majors as a reliever.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Remains winless
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Varland (0-5) took the loss Wednesday against the Royals, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out three.
Optioned to Triple-A following Friday's start, Varland was recalled Wednesday to make his second start since June 16. The 26-year-old managed to notch his first quality start of the season, but he was fortunate to surrender just the three runs. The right-hander allowed baserunners in all six innings he pitched while yielding solo home runs to Bobby Witt and Paul DeJong. Varland will continue to vie for the Twins' fifth rotation spot with Joe Ryan (shoulder) and Chris Paddack (forearm) sidelined, but his 6.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 36.2 innings this season do not inspire confidence.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Stumbles late in no-decision
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Varland didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader. He allowed three runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while striking out four.
Varland was cruising early, allowing just three hits while blanking Cleveland through his first four innings. However, things quickly unraveled in the fifth, as the right-hander allowed five hits including a three-run homer to Josh Naylor. The 26-year-old has struggled to a 6.46 ERA in 30.2 innings in the majors this year with a 1.66 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB. However, he fared better in Triple-A, posting a 1.48 ERA in his last six outings with St. Paul. Varland could get an extended look in Minnesota's rotation down the stretch with Joe Ryan (shoulder) sidelined indefinitely. He's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Rangers in his next outing.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Starting Friday during doubleheader
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The Twins will recall Varland from Triple-A St. Paul to start one of the games during Friday's doubleheader versus the Guardians, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Bailey Ober will also make a start for Minnesota during the twin bill, and the club has not yet made a decision on the order in which the two arms will appear. Varland holds a 1.19 ERA and 27:9 K:BB over 22.2 innings covering his last four starts at St. Paul.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Blanks Rockies in spot start
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Varland didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Colorado, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts across five scoreless innings.
Varland was part of the Twins rotation to start 2024, but after falling to a 9.18 ERA after four starts, he was sent down to Triple-A. The 26-year-old also struggled in the minors, owning a 5.31 ERA before being called up Tuesday to give Minnesota's starters an extra day of rest. Varland made quick work of the Rockies, needing just 63 pitches to get through five innings. However, he didn't qualify for the win, as the Twins didn't score until the seventh inning.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Recalled ahead of start
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The Twins recalled Varland from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.
Varland will make a spot start Tuesday against the Rockies as the Twins give the regular members of their rotation some extra rest. The right-hander holds a disappointing 9.18 ERA and 18:9 K:BB across 16.2 innings this season in the majors. Varland has posted a 5.31 ERA at St. Paul but has fanned 44 batters over 40.2 frames. He's likely to be sent back down immediately after Tuesday's outing.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Falls to 0-4
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Varland (0-4) allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over 2.2 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking the loss against Detroit.
Varland coughed up two runs in the first inning before Buddy Kennedy knocked him out of the game with a two-run shot in the third. It was Varland's shortest start of the year and bumped his ERA up to 9.18 through four outings. He threw just 35 of 74 pitches for strikes and forced one whiff. Varland's next outing is lined up to be on the road against the Angels.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Strong spring as starter
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Varland threw three scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League loss to Pittsburgh. He threw 34 pitches and another 11 in the bullpen as he prepares to be a starter, MLB.com reports. He's thrown seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk this spring.
Varland is competing with Anthony DeSclafani for the fifth starter role. He could begin the season with the job, as DeSclafani is working his way back from a sore right elbow. If Varland loses out on a rotation spot, it will be interesting to see if the Twins move him to the bullpen or keep him as a starter at Triple-A. Varland excelled as a reliever last season with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings with a 17:1 K:BB while seeing his fastball touch triple digits.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Recall made official
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Varland was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.
Varland made 10 starts earlier this season with the Twins, but he was recently moved to the bullpen at St. Paul and that's the role he'll fill now with the big club. The righty has the ability to go multiple innings, if needed, but his stuff has ticked up in relief so it wouldn't be a surprise if he eventually earns high-leverage appearances.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Moves to bullpen at Triple-A
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Varland has moved to the bullpen at Triple-A St. Paul as the Twins may consider him for a relief role in the majors in September, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
He gave up one run over four innings working out of the bullpen Thursday. It sounds like he'd be used as a long reliever if called up in September.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Hit hard by Tigers
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Varland (3-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Tigers. He struck out four.
Most of the damage came in the fifth, as the Tigers put up five runs in the frame including back-to-back homers by Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter. Varland has struggled in the month of June, allowing 17 runs over 15 innings (three starts) while also serving up five home runs. Though he is expected to be bumped from the rotation when Kenta Maeda (triceps) is removed from the 15-day injured list, Varland will likely have at least one more go-around as a starter and is tentatively lined up for a rematch with the Tigers next week.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Takes first loss of season
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Varland (2-1) took the loss Friday, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings against Toronto. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
The right-hander has made six big-league starts this season and given up more than three runs in only one of them. Homers remain Varland's biggest issue -- he's served up nine in 34 innings, and his 4.24 ERA hides an ominous 5.43 FIP.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Wins again Saturday
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Varland (2-0) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts over five-plus innings to earn the win Saturday over the Angels.
Varland threw 60 of 92 pitches for strikes en route to his second straight win. He allowed three straight runners to reach in the sixth inning, including a Shohei Ohtani solo home run, before Jovani Moran was called on to work out of the jam. Varland has been solid through five starts this season, posting a 4.18 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB through 28 innings. He's tentatively projected for a home start versus the Blue Jays next week.
