Varland struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief to record his 15th save of the season in an 8-6 win over the Cubs. He didn't allow a hit or a walk.
With the Blue Jays ahead 8-5 in the eighth inning, Mason Fluharty loaded the bases with nobody out, forcing manager John Schneider to turn to his closer much earlier than he wanted. Varland did allow an inherited runner to score on a fielder's choice, but he escaped the jam with no further damage before working around his own throwing error in the ninth. Varland hadn't pitched since Wednesday, but his 28 pitches in this one represented his biggest workload since May 22, so Toronto will likely try to steer away from him in Sunday's contest. On the season, the right-hander sports a 0.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 57:11 K:BB through 42 innings, and he has yet to blow a save chance.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Shuts door for 14th save
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Varland secured the save Wednesday against the Red Sox, striking out the side.
Varland made quick work of the scuffling Boston bats Wednesday, throwing all but one of his 10 pitches for strikes. After taking over closing duties from Jeff Hoffman earlier this year, Varland is running away with the job as 2026 has progressed. Through 40 innings, the 28-year-old right-hander boasts a 0.90 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 55:11 K:BB while going 14-for-14 in save situations.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Nails down 13th save
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Varland gave up a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings Tuesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 6-1 win over the Red Sox. He struck out three.
The right-hander fanned Mickey Gasper to end the eighth inning with the Blue Jays ahead 4-1 before they tacked on insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Varland has yet to blow a save chance this season, and while he's been showing some signs of fatigue lately after appearing in 35 of Toronto's first 73 games, he still sports a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB over eight innings in June. His brother Gus also notched a save for the Nationals on Tuesday, making them the fourth set of brothers in MLB history to pick up saves on the same day, with Edwin Diaz and Alexis Diaz having most recently accomplished the feat May 17, 2022.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Serves up game-winning homer
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Varland (3-2) took the loss Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays fell 3-1 to the Yankees. He struck out one.
Brought in for the top of the ninth inning in a 1-1 tie, Varland couldn't get the game to extras as Cody Bellinger led off the frame with a single before Paul Goldschmidt hooked a game-winning two-run homer to left field. It was the first long ball Varland has served up all year, and one stumble isn't going to cost him his spot as Toronto's closer. On the season, the right-hander sports a 0.96 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 49:10 K:BB through 37.2 innings, and he's a perfect 12-for-12 in converting save chances.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Gives up second earned run of 2026
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Varland (3-1) was credited with the win Tuesday against the Phillies after giving up one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one batter in the ninth inning.
Varland was brought out for the ninth with the game tied at 1-1, but he gave up just his second run of the season on a two-out RBI double to Bryson Stott. Luckily for Varland, that was the only run he gave up in the inning, and he came away with the win after the Blue Jays scored two runs in the bottom of the frame, capped up off by a walk-off single from Brandon Valenzuela. Varland now sits at a 0.50 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 46:10 K:BB across 35.2 innings this season and has converted all 11 of his save opportunities.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Records four-out save
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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: 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
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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: Notches third save
Rotowire
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.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Brilliant in setup role again
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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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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Impressive start to season
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Varland struck out the side in a perfect seventh inning during Sunday's loss to the Twins.
It wasn't a particularly high-leverage situation as the Blue Jays were down 8-1 when he took the mound, but Varland still fired 11 of 16 pitches for strikes in another impressive outing. Through eight appearances and nine innings to begin the year, the right-hander has a 0.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB with two holds.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Serves up homer Sunday
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Varland struck out one and gave up a solo home run to Carson Williams in an inning of relief during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
Varland has a 5:2 K:BB through 5.1 innings this spring but has been tagged for two homers. Keeping the ball in the yard has been an issue for the right-hander in the past -- he served up 12 homers in only 49.2 innings for the Twins in 2024, leading to a bloated 7.61 ERA -- but he reined in those tendencies last season en route to a 2.97 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a career-high 23 holds over 74 appearances between Minnesota and Toronto. Varland will begin 2026 as one of the top setup man in front of closer Jeff Hoffman.
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Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Will remain in bullpen
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Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that Varland will remain in a bullpen role in 2026, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Varland excelled in a full-time move to a relief role in 2025, posting a 2.97 ERA and 75:22 K:BB over 72.2 regular-season innings between the Blue Jays and Twins. The 28-year-old has a career 5.18 ERA over 23 starts at the major-league level, and it does not appear the Blue Jays have interest in giving Varland another chance to start anytime soon. He's likely to begin the 2026 campaign in a setup role.
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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: 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.
