Louis

Varland

Varland’s save was his 11th. He entered the game with a man on first and two outs in the eighth inning before erasing Leody Taveras with a strikeout and following it up with a scoreless ninth inning. Varland lowered his ERA to 0.26 as his dominant run continues.

The gap between Varland and Jeff Hoffman got even a little wider today, as Hoffman gave up a homer while getting two outs in the seventh. Varland’s ERA dipped to 0.27, as just one of the six runs he’s allowed this season has been earned.

Varland was called upon to get the final out of the eighth inning with the Jays holding a 3-2 advantage. He needed just two pitches to get Ozzie Albies to fly out to center. The Jays then piled on four insurance runs in the top half of the ninth before Varland returned for the ninth inning to close it out, retiring the side in order. He has been unbelievable for the Jays this season, compiling an unfathomable 0.28 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 43/9 K/BB ratio over 32 1/3 innings while converting each of his first nine save chances.

Louis Varland had shut down the heart of the Orioles lineup in the eighth inning before Hoffman took the mound with a four-run lead in the ninth. It didn’t go well. Hoffman struck out the first batter, then allowed the next six batters to reach, bringing three runs in and loading the bases. Connor Seabold took over and walked in a run before Pete Alonso walked it off with a base hit. Hoffman had been pitching better of late, making six straight scoreless appearances. Though Saturday’s implosion certainly won’t help his cause in retaking the closer role. Varland remains the reliever to roster in Toronto.

Fisher got the call to work the final frame with Louis Varland, Jeff Hoffman and Tyler Rogers presumably unavailable after pitching each of the previous two days. It wound up being an uneventful frame as Fisher needed just 15 pitches (10 strikes) to slam the door and collect his first career save.

Varland was called upon with two men on and two outs in the eighth inning and the Jays clinging to a one-run lead. He got ahead of Weston Wilson 0-2 and then picked Pete Alonso off of first base to end the threat. Varland then returned for the ninth and worked a scoreless frame to close it out. He has now converted each of his first eight save chances on the season while posting a scintillating 0.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 41/9 K/BB ratio over 29 1/3 innings.

Hoffman had a three-run cushion, but he didn’t need it in setting down Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz and Endy Rodríguez. Hoffman was the easy choice to close today after Louis Varland had a two-inning save Friday. Varland should be back on the role on Sunday if the Jays have a chance to extend their streak to five straight days with a save.

Varland came up clutch for the Jays in this one, retiring all six batters he faced with three of those outs coming via the strikeout. Varland has converted each of his last two save opportunities and has a 0.77 ERA and 1.20 WHIP on the month.

Varland allowed a run on two hits while striking out two and walking none. He stranded the game-tying run on second base while fanning Amed Rosario to end it. Meanwhile, Jeff Hoffman worked in the seventh inning on Wednesday, further cementing Varland’s closer role in Toronto. Manager John Schneider isn’t afraid to use Varland outside of save chances if the moment calls for it, but he’s been going to him in the ninth inning lately. All six of Varland’s saves have come since Hoffman last picked one up.

Varland struck out pinch-hitter Colt Keith to extinguish a ninth-inning threat and send a tie ballgame to extra innings before coming back out to protect a one-run lead. The hard-throwing 28-year-old coaxed ground balls from Jake Rogers and Kevin McGonigle before striking out Dillon Dingler to end it. It doesn’t go down as a save, but fantasy managers will take the win, his second of the season. He’s been phenomenal this season, converting five saves to go along with a microscopic 0.38 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 34/9 K/BB ratio across 23 2/3 innings. He certainly looks like Toronto’s primary closer right now.