Overview
- Hoffman, who entered with a 6-4 lead Tuesday in Milwaukee, gave up two runs in the ninth on two hits and three walks before Toronto pulled out a 9-7 win in the 10th.
- Speaking after the outing, he said he had no command and that nothing was going where he wanted, adding he was relieved Louis Varland helped push the game to extras.
- Through nine appearances, he has a 4.32 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 8.1 innings, 10 hits allowed, five walks, and a league-leading three blown saves.
- The Blue Jays have changed how they deploy him, giving him scheduled days to pitch rather than waiting for a save situation, a tactic they hope will build rhythm after long idle stretches hurt his control last year.
- Calls from fans to try other ninth-inning options have grown, with Varland and sidearmer Tyler Rogers cited, as Toronto’s early losing record and injuries raise the stakes of late-inning mistakes.