Trey Yesavage’s impending Blue Jays return could further complicate Guardians quest toward Wild Card berth 

On Monday, both the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays lost their respective season openers. While the loss meant the Guardians missed an opportunity to gain some ground on the White Sox, the one silver lining came via Toronto's loss that held the Guardians one-game lead in the American League Wild Card race.

BUT their quest to hold off the Blue Jays could get a bit harder soon thanks to Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage’s impending return, which could happen next Monday depending on how his rehab goes.

Just enough time for him to return and play spoiler. 

Trey Yesavage could impact the Guardians' postseason aspirations

Yesavage burst onto the scene last season when he recorded 27 2/3 innings during the Blue Jays’ World Series run after making just three starts in the regular season. 

Not only did he become the first pitcher in MLB history to record multiple World Series starts within his first eight career starts, he also set a new rookie record when he recorded 12 strikeouts in Toronto’s Game 5 win in the Fall Classic. 

Yesavage has been a solid pitcher this season (3.65 ERA in 18 starts), though he’s had two stints on the injured list. He started the season on the IL with right shoulder impingement but returned at the end of April.

He stayed healthy, but has been on the injured list since the beginning of August with a knee injury. 

It remains to be seen if the Blue Jays would prefer to use Yesavage as a starter in the final month of the season or if they’re going to try to use him in relief. 

That said, Yesavage would be a huge boost to the Blue Jays regardless of the role he’s pitching in. He’d be a boost to a rotation that currently consists of Dylan Cease, José Soriano, Max Scherzer and Spencer Arrighetti, and he’d be a boost to a bullpen that’s been running on fumes for a bit. 

Part of the reason for that has been a predictable injury to Shane Bieber, who has been on the injured list since Aug. 20 with right teres major inflammation. He won’t be back until the postseason (if Toronto makes it). 

The Blue Jays still have two games remaining against the Tigers before finishing the season with series against the Rangers, Orioles and Reds. If they do decide to use Yesavage as a starter, he’d likely make one start against the Orioles before going again at some point in their series against the Reds. 

Depending on how things go for the Guardians in the next week, either of those games could end up being the difference on if there’s postseason baseball in Northeast Ohio this fall.

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