TORONTO – Not only did the Blue Jays lose their fourth consecutive series over the weekend, they lost yet another player to injury in George Springer.
With 147 games remaining and six playoff spots available per league, the Blue Jays still have a 38 per cent chance of reaching the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. Those odds have dropped by about 25 percentage points since opening day – enough to sting. At the same time, every team goes through 6-9 stretches and a good week can flip everything this time of year.
“You can always say you have time, but time is of the essence at all times if that makes sense,” Springer said Sunday.
“Not great,” added manager John Schneider.
Under the circumstances, the Blue Jays can use all the help they can get. After placing Springer on the injured list they now have 10 players and over $100 million in 2026 payroll on the IL. Right-handers Bowden Francis and Cody Ponce aren’t expected to play again during the regular season, but that still leaves eight others who should return.
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Presented in loose order of proximity to the majors, here’s a closer look at the status of those eight players and how the Blue Jays plan to get by without them in the meantime:
Addison Barger
Injury: left ankle sprain
On injured list since: April 7
Timeline: Barger’s out of a walking boot, but hasn’t started ramping up towards a return to game action just yet. Schneider expressed hope Barger would miss close to the minimum 10 days, and he’s first eligible to return Friday against the Diamondbacks.
Who plays in the meantime: Nathan Lukes, Jesus Sanchez, Myles Straw and Davis Schneider have been rotating through the corner outfield spots.
Trey Yesavage
Injury: right shoulder impingement
On injured list since: entire 2026 season to date
Timeline: Yesavage will make at least one more minor-league rehab start this week before returning to the majors. If all goes well in his upcoming outing, he could theoretically re-join the Blue Jays as soon as next week.
Who plays in the meantime: The Blue Jays signed Patrick Corbin so he could help deepen the rotation while the likes of Yesavage and Jose Berrios work their way back.
George Springer
Injury: broken left big toe
On injured list since: April 12
Timeline: Before Sunday’s game, Schneider said doctors indicated Springer’s “probably going to feel a little bit better in about a week to 10 days. It’s not going to feel great, probably, for a couple of weeks.” If it was up to Springer, he’d be back sooner, though. He wanted to stay in the game even with the broken toe, but team staff ruled that out once the X-rays revealed a fracture. The next 24-48 hours should reveal more about how fast Springer can progress.
“We’re going to find out,” he said. “I don’t really know yet. I’ve never had this happen. It doesn’t feel good to walk, so I would assume running and hitting wouldn’t feel great right this second but at the end of the day I want to play. I’ll leave that up to Schneids and the staff but I’m going to try to push the envelope.”
Who plays in the meantime: Former White Sox slugger Eloy Jimenez had his contract selected Sunday, and he’ll be among those slotting in at DH while Springer recovers. For what it’s worth, Jimenez singled twice in four at bats against the Twins.
José Berríos
Injury: stress fracture in right elbow
On injured list since: entire 2026 season to date
Timeline: Berríos is making progress, but still likely at least a couple weeks away from a big-league return. He recently threw live batting practice and is slated to start a rehab assignment next week with 50 pitches targeted for his first start.
Who plays in the meantime: With Berríos on the sidelines, there’s extended opportunity for Corbin and others.
Yimi García
Injury: right elbow surgery
On injured list since: entire 2026 season to date
Timeline: García has resumed throwing off a mound and is said to be progressing well, but has yet to begin a rehab assignment. Under those circumstances, it’s hard to pin down a specific timeline but relievers can sometimes ramp up quickly once they’re at full strength.
Who plays in the meantime: The likes of Rule 5 pick Spencer Miles and left-hander Joe Mantiply have been getting regular reps with García sidelined.
Alejandro Kirk
Injury: broken thumb in left hand
On injured list since: April 4
Timeline: With an estimated absence of six weeks, Kirk could be nearing a return by the middle of May if his recovery goes well.
Who plays in the meantime: Not only did rookie Brandon Valenzuela recently hit his first career home run over the weekend, he has a strong throwing arm and is earning positive reviews from Blue Jays pitchers. Valenzuela and Tyler Heineman are sharing catching duties with Kirk sidelined.
Shane Bieber
Injury: right elbow inflammation
On injured list since: entire 2026 season to date
Timeline: Bieber has been throwing off a mound, an important step as he builds back toward game action. Yet more tests await the 30-year-old as he has yet to begin a rehab assignment. Once he’s back in minor-league games, it’ll be a sign the Blue Jays believe he’s less than a month away from MLB action.
Who plays in the meantime: Bieber’s slow ramp-up contributed to the Blue Jays’ interest in signing Max Scherzer, Corbin and perhaps even Ponce. At this stage, he’s too far away from the majors to create pressure on the current rotation.
Anthony Santander
Injury: left shoulder surgery
On injured list since: entire 2026 season to date
Timeline: Santander will miss most of the season, but if his recovery goes well he’s a candidate to return to big-league action late in the season, perhaps by August or September.
Who plays in the meantime: The Santander injury preceded the acquisition of Sanchez, who has been getting regular corner outfield reps along with Lukes, Straw and Schneider.
