4 former players Blue Jays fans can root for in the 2026 MLB playoffs

Amidst a disappointing 2026 campaign, the Toronto Blue Jays managed to finish off the season in style with all-time great Max Scherzer performance, perhaps for the last time. Pitching on short rest, Scherzer pitched a seven inning gem, giving up just one run with seven strikeouts en route to a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the season finale.

The Blue Jays season may now be officially over. However, that isn’t the case for some former Blue Jays as their road to the World Series has just begun with the postseason set to get underway on Tuesday (Sept. 29). Here are four former players that Blue Jays fans can still root for in the 2026 MLB playoffs.

INF Ty France, San Diego Padres

Ty France didn’t have a key role with the Blue Jays during their magical 2025 postseason run last year as he ended up get just four at-bats over two playoff games in total. However, France looks to play a far bigger role after putting together a strong 2026 campaign with the San Diego Padres.

The 32-year-old veteran posted a solid .295 average, .865 OPS, along with 59 runs scored, 24 doubles, 21 home runs and 72 RBIs over 133 total games with the Padres this season. More importantly, France led the offense as the cleanup hitter down the stretch to help San Diego make the playoffs.

P Tim Mayza, Philadelphia Phillies

After posting career best numbers with the Blue Jays in 2023 (1.52 ERA, with 53 strikeouts in 53.1 total innings), Tim Mayza struggled to find his game in subsequent seasons. Not only did his numbers inflate, Mayza even had a hard time maintaining a big league gig. Finally, the 34-year-old left-hander was able to revitalize his career this year by being a part of the main bullpen core with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 60 relief appearances, Mayza amassed a solid 3.48 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, giving up just 26 earned runs with 64 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched. This will be the third time in four years that he will be pitching in the postseason.

Ty France, Tim Mayza, Randal Grichuck and Kevin Gausman are players Blue Jays fans can cheer on during the 2026 postseason

OF Randal Grichuk, Chicago White Sox

As a fan favourite during his time in Toronto, Randal Grichuk is playing in the postseason for the first time since 2020. That year, Grichuk played in two playoff games for the Blue Jays, recording just one hit with five strikeouts as Toronto was quickly dispatched by the Tampa Bay Rays.

This season has been a renaissance for the 35-year-old veteran. He's played most of the year with the Chicago White Sox after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees in late April.

In 101 games played with the White Sox, Grichuk registered a .299 average with a career high .926 OPS, with 33 runs scored, 21 doubles, 15 home runs and 44 RBIs. As one of the dark horses in the MLB playoffs, it’ll be easy for Blue Jays fans to get behind Grichuk and the White Sox to help knock off some of their AL East divisional foes along the way.

P Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs

Finally, who better to root for than the man that helped the Blue Jays return to contention this decade, Kevin Gausman. The Blue Jays got everything they could have asked for when they signed Gausman to one of the best contracts in franchise history. This season might not have been his best, but he was still useful, compiling a 9-12 record with a 4.51 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 32 starts split between the Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs.

Gausman has proven to be a big-game pitcher in the past as he rises to the occasion when the games matter the most. He now has another opportunity to get the first ring of his career. He will also have the chance to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers along the way which would be music to the ears of Blue Jays fans.

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