CHICAGO — As an illness makes its way through the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, Eric Lauer’s upcoming start was bumped back a day, with Saturday now looking like a potential bullpen game.
Lauer probably could have pitched through the bug, but since the Blue Jays only had two starters firmed up for the weekend anyway, they pushed Lauer back to give him a little more rest.
“We have the luxury to just give him an extra day,” manager John Schneider said from the Rate Field dugout Friday morning.
That means Saturday’s starter is now TBD, with recently recalled Lazaro Estrada one candidate to play a significant role.
The uncertainty is tied to the right knee injury sustained by Cody Ponce on Monday, but while the Blue Jays await word on Ponce’s knee, they’ve been actively pursuing pitching reinforcements. According to industry sources, the Blue Jays had serious talks with at least one free agent starter this week.
While those talks may not lead anywhere in the end, it’s always prudent to seek pitching depth, and the Ponce injury intensified those talks — at least for a few days. For now, though, the Blue Jays are making it work in-house.
Meanwhile, in the minor leagues, Trey Yesavage will take a significant step Friday as he starts a rehab assignment with the Dunedin Blue Jays. That outing will begin a 30-day clock for Yesavage to return to the majors, but there’s hope he won’t need that long.
Asked what will be next for Yesavage after Friday, Schneider said, “We’ll see.” First things first, the Blue Jays want to see that he’s recovering well from the shoulder impingement that has him on the injured list.
“As long as his stuff is there, we’ll feel good about that and just do what’s best for him,” Schneider said.
One of three pitchers rehabbing away from the big-league team, Yesavage is likely ahead of Jose Berrios, who’s throwing live batting practice Saturday, or Shane Bieber, who’s slated to pitch off a mound for the first time in 2026 Saturday.
“Probably (Yesavage) followed by Jose and then Biebs in that order,” Schneider said.
Until then, it’s a matter of taking advantage of a 1-5 White Sox team regardless of pitching injuries or clubhouse ailments.
