Louis Varland was named AL reliever of the month with impressive stats, while Tyler Heineman's performance has raised concerns for manager John Schneider. Addison Barger is on a rehab assignment after a rough start to the season.
Key points
Louis Varland named AL reliever of the month
Varland's stats include 16 innings pitched and 0.56 ERA
Tyler Heineman's performance raises concerns for manager John Schneider
Addison Barger hits a home run in rehab start
Eric Lauer has a 6.00 ERA in 27 innings this season
Toronto Blue JaysCleveland GuardiansTampa Bay Rays
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland (77) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland (77) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Happy Monday.
So there is a little bit of good news, Louis Varland was named AL reliever of the month. He pitched a bunch, 16 innings, 0.56 ERA, 1.0 WAR, 4 saves. Batters hit .200/.277/.254 against him.
We are pretty lucky to have him, I donât know who would be closing games for us without him. Maybe they continue this way all season, Hoffman in a setup role, which seems to be going fine and Varland in the closer role. Or they could mix and match depending on who they want to have different guys face.
Tyler Rogers, Braydon Fisher, Spencer Miles and Joe Mantiply are all pitching well.
And Hoffman has a 3.38 ERA in his 6 games, giving up a run in each of two games, with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts in in the 5.1 innings. Itâs a start.
The stuff between John Schneider and Tyler Heineman, in yesterdayâs game, was weird. If John had such a problem with the way Heineman was playing, why didnât he pinch hit for him in that spot. I get the feeling that John was mad at himself for not pinch hitting. Which is fair, I was kind of mad at him for not pinch hitting.
I donât like managers being that public with their dislike of what a player is doing. I think things like that should be private. And, beyond that, Schneider knows what Heineman is. I mean, Schneider was the same sort of player, good glove/bad bat. If he doesnât like Heinemanâs play, why put him in the lineup. Why not talk to the front office about finding a better option.
Despite last years play, or at least the play from the first half of last year, Heineman is not a hitter. Expecting him to be one is not going to end well.
And, if John is going to start taking guys out of the lineup for a bad at bat, we are going to be forfeiting a lot of games.
John Sterling passed away at 87.
Iâll admit that I wasnât a fan. One year, when we were on holiday, I ended up listening to him call some Yankees/Blue Jays games and I hated that he mispronounced some playerâs names, , others. And, it bothered me. I mean Bautista was one of the top players in the league. You should be able to get that one right, if your job is to be a radio announcer.
But, he had the job a long time. Called 5420 regular season games, 5,060 consecutive games. â fans liked him. He was enthusiastic. He was different. Different is a good thing, he wasnât boring.
Maybe Iâd have liked him better if he didnât work for the godless Yankees.
hit a home run in his first rehab start, and took a walk, with a ground out as well. I think the plan is for him to play three rehab games.
Addison didnât have a great start to the season, with 1 hit in 23 PA. So, expecting him to be great as soon as he comes back might be a little hopeful, but it will be good to have him back.
Tonightâs game is a 6:30 start. starts for the . willâŠ..pitch at some point. He wasnât happy with the opener thing last time against. But then, you want change, pitch better. Lauer has a 6.00 ERA in 27 innings this year. Pitch well, and heâll likely get to be the starter next time around. Pitch crappy, and this if the best you can hope for.
Q&A
What were Louis Varland's stats for being named AL reliever of the month?
Louis Varland pitched 16 innings with a 0.56 ERA, 1.0 WAR, and 4 saves.
Why is John Schneider frustrated with Tyler Heineman's performance?
John Schneider expressed frustration publicly about Heineman's play, questioning why he didn't pinch hit for him during the game.
What is Addison Barger's status after his rehab start?
Addison Barger hit a home run and took a walk in his first rehab start, with plans for him to play three rehab games.
What are Eric Lauer's current pitching stats?
Eric Lauer has a 6.00 ERA in 27 innings this year and is under pressure to improve his performance.
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