Toronto Blue Jays

Francisco Liriano could return this week

Mon, May 29th 7:21am EDT
By Blaine Blontz

Francisco Liriano completed a rehab start on Sunday in which he logged 72 pitches, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate. Liriano could rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation as soon as this week if all continues to go well. (Source: Shi Davidi on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Liriano is making progress from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him since his May 10 start. He was inconsistent prior to the injury, so fantasy owners may want to give him a start or two before re-inserting him into their lineups.

Roberto Osuna tosses perfect ninth for Save No. 9

Sun, May 28th 9:23am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Roberto Osuna recorded a strikeout in the ninth inning of Saturday's 3-1 win over the Rangers, notching his ninth save of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Fantasy owners who stuck with Osuna after his rough start are looking pretty good right now, as Osuna now has nine saves, a 2.89 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 21 Ks over just 18 2/3 innings.

Marco Estrada excellent again, strikes out eight Rangers

Sun, May 28th 9:19am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Marco Estrada cruised through six innings of work on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out eight Texas Rangers in a 3-1 win.

Fantasy Impact: Estrada has been very good of late. He's now 4-2 with a 3.15 ERA, but he's really busted out in 2017 with 78 Ks in 68 2/3 innings pitched.

Justin Smoak hits solo HR, walks twice in win

Sat, May 27th 10:26am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Justin Smoak was 1-for-2 with two walks and a home run in Friday's 7-6 win over the Rangers.

Fantasy Impact: The HR was Smoak's 11th, and he's now batting .280 with 30 RBIs and 26 runs scored in a season which no one saw coming. Ride him while he stays hot.

Devon Travis hits Grand Slam in Friday's win

Sat, May 27th 10:23am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis stayed hot on Friday night, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and a grand slam.

Fantasy Impact: Travis was ice cold in April, but is batting .372 with three HR, 15 2B and 15 RBIs in May. He's making a lot of fantasy owners look smart right now for sticking with him through the early part of the season.

Troy Tulowitzki out of the lineup on Saturday

Sat, May 27th 10:19am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Troy Tulowitzki is being held out of the lineup on Saturday with a precautionary day off. Tulowitzki returned to the Blue Jays on Friday night and went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. (Source: Hazel Mae on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Blue Jays will be extremely cautious with both Tulowitski and Josh Donaldson, who both returned from the DL on Friday. Look for normal playing time to return within a week or so, should they suffer no setbacks.

Josh Donaldson out of the lineup Saturday

Sat, May 27th 10:14am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Josh Donaldson doubled in his return to the lineup on Friday night, but will be held out of the lineup on Saturday. This is a planned day off. (Source: Hazel Mae on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Blue Jays will be extremely cautious with both Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki, who both returned from the DL on Friday. Look for normal playing time to return within a week or so, should they suffer no setbacks.

Mike Bolsinger fine against Rangers

Sat, May 27th 10:02am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Mike Bolsinger had a short and unmemorable start against the Rangers on Friday, lasting just 4 2/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks. Bolsinger struck out three.

Fantasy Impact: Bolsinger is somehow managing a 5.75 ERA with a 1.87 WHIP. He's hittable and walks plenty of guys and is likely out of the rotation once J.A. Happ is healthy, but he's done a solid job with what's been asked of him. His fantasy value is low.

Ezequiel Carrera hitless in the ninth spot

Fri, May 26th 11:31pm EDT
By Andrew Seifter

With Josh Donaldson back from the disabled list, Ezequiel Carrera was dropped to ninth in the batting order, where he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Fantasy Impact: Carrera had been hitting second, but that experiment has mercifully ended with Donaldson's return. A drop in the batting order was long overdue for Carrera, who has just two hits in his last 30 at-bats. A decline in playing time could be next.

Russell Martin singles and scores

Fri, May 26th 11:21pm EDT
By Andrew Seifter

Russell Martin went 1-for-4 with a run scored against the Rangers on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: Martin is still looking for his first extra base hit or RBI since returning from the disabled list on May 20. The power should return soon as long as he's fully recovered from his shoulder injury, but his low batting average makes him only a borderline starting option in standard 12-team mixed leagues.

Kendrys Morales homers in second straight game

Fri, May 26th 11:09pm EDT
By Andrew Seifter

Kendrys Morales hit his second home run in as many games as part of a 2-for-4 night against the Rangers on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: Morales is well on his way to another 25-30 HR season, and his other counting stats can only benefit from the return of Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki. He's been a tad unlucky in the BABIP department so far, but the good night lifted his batting average to an even .250 on the year.

Marcus Stroman moves to 5-2 with win over Brewers

Thu, May 25th 4:13pm EDT
By Dan Harris

Marcus Stroman allowed four runs on four hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings on Wednesday against the Brewers. Stroman received the victory and moved to 5-2 on the season.

Fantasy Impact: It certainly wasn't Stroman's best outing, as he had a season-high in walks allowed, and now has an inflated 1.39 WHIP on the season. The Brewers generally hit well at Miller Park (.344 wOBA at the stadium), so, all things considered, it wasn't Stroman's worst effort. He'll take on the Reds in his next start.

Jose Bautista stays hot

Thu, May 25th 10:29am EDT
By Andrew Seifter

Jose Bautista continued his hot-hitting ways, going 2-for-4 with a home run on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Bautista didn't have his first multi-hit game of the season until April 21, but he's now had five of them in his last seven games. It's no coincidence that he's also dramatically cut down on the strikeouts, fanning just five times in his last 46 at-bats. His .241 batting average is inflated by a .292 BABIP that is 25 points higher than his career average, but as long as he's seeing the ball this well his batting average should be just fine. Ride him while he's hot and wait to see whether the improved contact rate sticks.

Kevin Pillar smacks another home run

Thu, May 25th 10:13am EDT
By Andrew Seifter

Kevin Pillar went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact: Pillar continues to provide his fantasy owners with across-the-board production, as he's now up to seven home runs and seven stolen bases in just 185 at-bats. His batting average still sits north of .300 and he's crossed the plate 30 times in 45 games.

Dwight Smith Jr. recalled to take Anthony Alford's roster spot

Wed, May 24th 11:17am EDT
By Roy Widrig

The Blue Jays have recalled Dwight Smith Jr. from Triple-A Buffalo to take the place of injured OF Anthony Alford on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Smith Jr. likely won't receive starting time, but with the way injuries are going on this team, he might be the No. 1 OF and leadoff man before too long.

Anthony Alford to DL with hamate fracture

Wed, May 24th 11:15am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Anthony Alford has been placed on the 10-Day DL with a hamate fracture in his left hand, per Ben Nicholson-Smith. Alford had his first MLB hit on Tuesday night, a double. (Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is madness. If you have any Blue Jays on your fantasy roster, wrap them in bubble wrap. Dwight Smith Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Joe Biagini undone by singles

Wed, May 24th 9:57am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Joe Biagini cruised through four innings but allowed a bunch of singles in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers. Biagini allowed three runs (all in the fifth inning) on five hits and three walks, striking out three.

Fantasy Impact: The goal for Biagini is to eventually be stretched out as a starter, but it seems teams are getting to him by the third time through the lineup. He'll probably be a good starter, but he's not quite there yet. Biagini will remain in the rotation until both Francisco Liriano and J.A. Happ return.

Aaron Sanchez is back on the DL

Mon, May 22nd 9:04am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Aaron Sanchez is back to the DL with yet another (unrelated to previous) finger injury. Cesar Valdez was recalled to take his place on the roster.

Fantasy Impact: Sanchez allowed three runs in six innings pitched against the Orioles on Saturday, but was placed on the DL quickly with a laceration on his middle finger. It seems we can't get a start out of him without forcing him to the DL afterwards.

Darrell Ceciliani homers, lands on DL

Fri, May 19th 10:40am EDT
By Roy Widrig

In his first start of the year Blue Jays OF Darrell Ceciliani injured himself on a home run swing. Ceciliani was 2-for-2 with a HR, 2B, two runs scored and three RBI before leaving the game with a subluxation of the shoulder.

Fantasy Impact: He'll be out for a while, so even more emphasis will be placed on Ezequiel Carrera and recent call-up Dwight Smith Jr.

Joe Smith strikes out the side

Fri, May 19th 10:37am EDT
By Roy Widrig

Blue Jays RP Joe Smith was excellent on Thursday night, striking out three Braves in a perfect eighth inning of work.

Fantasy Impact: Smith is having a great season, but most of his value will come from holds. He didn't have one on Thursday night, but is 5-for-5 this season in that category and has a strong 2.75 ERA with 29 K in 19 2/3 innings pitched.

Steve Pearce to DL with calf injury

Tue, May 16th 9:42am EDT
By Blaine Blontz

Steve Pearce has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right calf. (Source: Shi Davidi on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Pearce suffered the injury and had to exit this weekend. His teammate, Josh Donaldson, has been sidelined over a month due to a similar injury, and we've seen it delay the start of Adrian Beltre's season. Unlike those two, Pearce isn't fantasy relevant outside the deepest leagues and for DFS purposes.