Tyler Rogers perfect in ninth for third save

With Louis Varland unavailable on Friday, the Jays turned to Rogers to close things out with a three-run lead to protect. He made things interesting by loading the bases with no outs on a pair of walks and a catcher’s interference call. He then got Trea Turner on a fielder’s choice that plated a run before allowing an RBI single to Bryce Harper that made it a 5-4 ballgame. He then walked Luis Arraez to reload the bases before getting Alec Bohm to bounce into a fielder’s choice. Mercifully, he then got Brandon Marsh on a ground ball to second to end the game. Rogers has been terrific for the Jays this season, but he really walked the tightrope in this one.

The Jays didn’t want Louis Varland working for the third time in four days, so it was Rogers in the ninth today after Jeff Hoffman got the final two outs in the eighth. Rogers ended up allowing three singles to the first four batters he faced, loading the bases with one out. Joey Loperfido then reached on catcher’s interference to force in a run, and Cam Smith followed with a game-tying sac fly. Rogers also had a miserable outing Friday in which he allowed five unearned runs after entering a blowout loss, and he’s given up multiple hits in three straight appearances. That’s very much unlike him, but he still has a 1.91 ERA overall.

Fortunately, those X-rays came back negative for any fractures, and the 35-year-old hurler is considered day-to-day. Rogers has been a key cog in the Jays’ bullpen this season, registering a 2.45 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 16/9 K/BB ratio over 25 2/3 innings in his 27 appearances, mostly in high leverage situations.

Louis Varland worked the eighth inning and faced the heart of the Miami lineup, so Toronto had Rogers face the bottom of the group and got the job done. It’s his second save of 2026, and he now has a healthy ERA of 2.52. Rogers helps the Blue Jays a lot more than fantasy managers in his set-up role.

Louis Varland had three outings of 20-plus pitches this week, including a two-inning performance on Saturday. Rogers filled in during the 4-1 win, but the ground-ball-heavy right-hander will return to a setup role moving forward. The submariner signed a three-year, $37 million deal with Toronto this past offseason.

Team USA could not guarantee Holmes enough innings to stay ready for the regular season, so back to Mets camp he goes. Also exiting the Team USA roster for the quarterfinal round are Michael Wacha, Ryan Yarbrough, and Tarik Skubal. Replacements for those three are Will Vest, Tyler Rogers, and Tim Hill. The team has not yet announced a replacement for Holmes, but Joe Ryan is expected to be in the mix.

Rogers provides Toronto with an elite setup specialist to help bridge the gap to closer Jeff Hoffman. The 34-year-old submariner is coming off the strongest campaign of his career where he recorded a microscopic 1.98 ERA — 2.88 FIP — and 16.1 percent strikeout rate across 77 1/3 innings over a league-high 81 appearances between the Giants and Mets. He’s been one of the most durable workhorse relievers in baseball, making a staggering 374 appearances over the past half-decade. The deal includes a $12 million vesting option for 2029 that converts after 110 appearances from 2027-2028 or 60 appearances in 2028.

The deal also includes a vesting option for a fourth season that would bring the total contract to $48 million. The 34-year-old submariner delivered the finest season of his career in 2025, posting a minuscule 1.98 ERA — 2.88 FIP — 0.94 WHIP and 48/7 K/BB ratio over 77 1/3 innings in a league-leading 81 appearances between the Giants and Mets. He’ll add another proven weapon to Toronto’s deep and talented bullpen mix leading to closer Jeff Hoffman.

Edwin Díaz is gone, but Rogers in the eighth and Devin Williams in the ninth would still give the Mets an exceptional late-game duo. Rogers, a free agent for the first time, is almost certain to land the first multiyear deal of his career at age 35.

The trade is now official, and it’s a hefty return for a rental reliever. The Mets are acquiring a proven high-leverage weapon in Rogers, who has been exceptional this season with a sparkling 1.80 ERA and 38/4 K/BB ratio over 50 innings (53 appearances). The 34-year-old side-winder has made a staggering 392 appearances since 2019 and brings exactly the type of postseason-tested experience a contender needs to bolster its bullpen for a deep October run.