Louis

Varland

Varland took the mound in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, tasked with taking the game to extra innings. He tossed a clean frame, striking out one to go to the tenth. Varland returned for the bottom of the tenth with a one-run lead and allowed the starting runner on second to score on a sacrifice fly before ending the frame. The Blue Jays would take a two-run lead in the 11th, putting Varland in line for the win as Lazaro Estrada closed it out.

Varland gave up a 108-mph single to Pete Crow-Armstrong to start the ninth and then a 100-mph fly to Seiya Suzuki that proved to be an out with the wind blowing in at Wrigley. With two outs, he gave up another 100-mph fly, but this one was hit a little lower and down into the left field corner for a 368-foot homer. Varland has allowed six runs — three earned — in his last three appearances. He’d allowed 11 runs — six earned — in 50 appearances previously.

The Jays went on to win in 10, with Chase Lee, who benefitted from a big baserunning error, picking up his first save. Varland was pitching for the first time since throwing 31 pitches and taking a loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.

Varland was called on to pitch the ninth in a 1-1 game and immediately allowed a walk and two singles to score one run. After getting the next two batters out, Varland induced a ground ball to second base, where Luis Urias committed a throwing error. One run would score on that play, and two more would come around to score when the next batter, Jordan Walker, hit a two-out single. Varland still has a pristine 1.11 ERA in 57 innings this season.

Varland allowed a one-out single to Masyn Winn in this one, but retired the next two batters he faced to get out of the inning. The righty lowered his season ERA to 0.96 on the season following Friday’s game and is a perfect 24-for-24 in save opportunities this season.

Varland allowed one hit and one walk in the outing. He’s converted all 23 of the save chances he’s been given this year, and his ERA now sits under 1. Jeff Hoffman began the season as Toronto’s closer, but Varland seized the role early and has run away with it since. The dominant campaign has him trending toward being a high-end closer selection in 2027 fantasy drafts.

Varland’s save was his 22nd of the season. He bounced back from a two-out single and a walk to strikeout Luis Garcia to end the game. Varland has a 1.02 ERA and still hasn’t blown a save in what continues to be a stellar campaign.

Ho-hum. Varland struck out two of the three top-of-the-order Rays and got Yandy Diaz to hit a soft grounder for his other out. Varland has been one of the premier waiver wire finds of the season in most leagues with a 1.04 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.

Varland struck out one in earning his 20th save. He’s fanned a batter in 15 straight appearances. He needed just nine pitches to get through this one, so he’ll be good to go on Sunday.

Varland had to work to pick up his 19th save of the season on Friday. After retiring the first two batters he faced, the righty allowed three straight hits, with the third being an RBI single by Jackson Merrill that drove in Luis Campusano to cut the Jays’ lead to 5-3. Varland would get Xander Bogaerts to ground out to end the threat, but the three hits he allowed are the most he has given up in any game this season. It wasn’t a pretty outing, but we’ll assume this is a one-off for Varland, whose ERA on the season now sits at 1.10 after being charged with the lone earned run.