Toronto

Blue Jays

Scherzer returns to take the ball for Wednesday’s series finale against the Phillies at the Rogers Centre following a six-week absence recovering from a forearm strain. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer’s durability remains his biggest obstacle to sustained fantasy value at this stage of his career, but he’s been an effective starter, when healthy. A wait-and-see approach seems like the best route given his struggles in five early-season starts, but he’ll offer some streaming appeal if he’s feeling right from a physical standpoint again.

Seabold loses his spot on Toronto’s roster with veteran starter Max Scherzer returning from the injured list for Wednesday’s game against the Phillies. The well-traveled 30-year-old struggled in five appearances with the Blue Jays after coming over from the Tigers in a trade back on May 27.

It doesn’t really make any sense for Toronto to send Varsho to the injured list at this point since he’s already sat out five straight contests. The expectation is that he’ll be ready to return for Friday’s series opener against the Yankees after missing time with a lingering left wrist issue. It’ll be Myles Straw in center field on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.

Springer was given a day off to reset mentally during Tuesday’s contest with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moving up to the leadoff spot in his place. Guerrero is hitting second in this one followed by a red-hot Ernie Clement to face Phillies southpaw Jesús Luzardo.

Sañchez homered off Zach Wheeler to make it a 1-1 game in the sixth and then singled to open a two-run rally in the ninth. He’s batting .296/.328/.476, giving him the highest OPS among Jays regulars this season. Things might get crowded again in Toronto’s outfield after Addison Barger returns. but there’s little doubt now that Sañchez should keep starting in left or right against righties over the rest of the season.

Cease was excellent in allowing just three hits and one walk, but Zach Wheeler matched him to make it a 1-1 game after six. Those rostering Cease should still be very encouraged, as he allowed just four hard-hit balls and one walk while getting is 18 outs tonight. He’ll face the Red Sox in Boston next week.

The Phillies took a 2-1 lead against Varland in the top of the ninth, but the Jays came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to win the game and make Varland 3-1 on the season. Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless seventh in a tie game tonight, but it probably won’t matter much what Hoffman does unless Varland blows a lead in the near future.

Toronto skipper John Schneider told reporters Varsho underwent an MRI that didn’t reveal any structural issues. It remains unclear why he simply hasn’t gone to the injured list since he’s out of the lineup for the fourth straight game with a lingering left wrist issue. It’s plausible that he’s available off the bench, if needed, but the Blue Jays will roll with Nathan Lukes patrolling center field on Tuesday night.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters they’re trying to shake things up for Guerrero and will see how it goes. It’ll be rookie Charles McAdoo at first base and hitting ninth with a scuffling George Springer getting a mental break. The 27-year-old fantasy superstar has just three homers through 65 games this season. He’s obviously capable of erupting for an extended power surge at any moment based on his track record. It’ll be a pair of certifiable beefy baseball boys in Guerrero and Phillies counterpart Kyle Schwarber atop their respective lineups in the Rogers Centre on Tuesday night.

Cease returns from a two-week stint on the injured list recovering from a left hamstring strain to take the ball against the Phillies at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday night. The 30-year-old upper-echelon fantasy starter holds a strong 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92/26 K/BB ratio across 62 innings over 11 starts in his Blue Jays debut this season. His return will provide a much-needed lift for Toronto’s rotation mix and fantasy managers alike.