Overview
- Dylan Cease completed a Triple‑A rehab start on Thursday, throwing 75 pitches with 50 strikes, and is now considered likely to rejoin the Blue Jays’ rotation in the near term.
- Max Scherzer threw 73 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in his Buffalo rehab appearance and showed encouraging velocity, with his fastball averaging 93.4 mph and topping 95.7 mph.
- Shane Bieber is set to finish the three‑start rehab sequence in Buffalo and will be evaluated next for workload, effectiveness and readiness before any MLB activation.
- Toronto’s rotation remains strained because José Berríos, Cody Ponce and Bowden Francis are out for the season, forcing heavy reliance on interim starters and extended bullpen use.
- The club plans to limit first big‑league outings for returning starters (targeting about 95 pitches rather than a full build) and is weighing external rotation additions, with reports naming Sandy Alcántara as a possible trade target.