Blue Jays 2026 report card: Grading the pitchers who survived a historic wave of injuries

Pitching was unquestionably the strength of the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays despite their staff being ravaged by injuries. They used a franchise-record number of pitchers, yet still managed to post respectable numbers overall—if only they stayed healthy. 

A letter grade for the main pitchers who finished the year with the Blue Jays

Braydon Fisher

• ERA: 3.21
• WHIP: 1.27
• Ks: 74
• IP: 75.2
• FIP: 4.38

Fisher took on an extreme workload in 2026. His versatility was a huge asset; he did everything from ‘open’ games to work in high leverage. The results weren’t always exceptional, but he should remain a core piece of the bullpen moving forward. 

Grade: B

Brendan Celluci

• ERA: 0.00
• WHIP: 0.58
• Ks: 11
• IP: 8.2
• FIP: 1.60

Celluci shined in an impressive MLB debut against the Detroit Tigers after a largely unimpressive campaign in the minor leagues. He then gave the Blue Jays some solid innings in late September when they were thin on healthy arms.

Grade: B

Brendon Little

• ERA: 6.35
• WHIP: 1.38
• Ks: 69
• IP: 28.1
• FIP: 4.94

Little’s first few outings of 2026 were truly abhorrent and led to him being optioned to Triple-A Buffalo in April. He eventually found his way back literally and figuratively, finding some degree of consistency down the stretch. His strikeout ability is tantalizing. 

Grade: C-

Dylan Cease

• ERA: 2.40
• WHIP: 1.101
• Ks: 239
• IP: 169
• FIP: 2.55

Cease was everything the Blue Jays could have hoped for and more in his first year as a Blue Jay. He was putting together a legitimate Cy Young case before a shoulder injury prematurely ended his season. He’s one of the most talented pitchers in franchise history.

Grade: A

Joe Mantiply

• ERA: 3.00
• WHIP: 1.19
• Ks: 22
• IP: 27
• FIP: 3.58

Mantiply was pitching well in a low-leverage role before an injury wiped out several months of his season. He wasn’t the same guy upon coming back from the IL, ultimately finding himself designated for assignment in September.

Grade: B-

Jose Soriano

• ERA: 3.91
• WHIP: 1.29
• Ks: 169
• IP: 177.1
• FIP: 3.90

The Blue Jays paid a high price in prospect Arjun Nimmala to acquire Soriano at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Angels. His season-long numbers are good, but the 5.30 ERA he recorded in 10 starts after coming over to Toronto left something to be desired. 

Grade: C-

Louis Varland

• ERA: 1.27
• WHIP: 1.00
• Ks: 97
• IP: 78
• FIP: 1.83

Varland’s 2026 might be the best season by a Blue Jays' relief pitcher ever. Not only did he convert 35 of his 37 save opportunities, he did so while completely and utterly overpowering the hitters he faced. He’s a superstar in the bullpen. 

Grade: A+

Mason Fluharty

• ERA: 3.80
• WHIP: 1.24
• Ks: 65
• IP: 62.2
• FIP: 3.66

Flurhaty, like Fisher, deserves massive credit for his workload in 2026; he led MLB with 83 appearances in a season that often felt as if he was pitching every night. Most impressive is how he got better as the year went along rather than burning out.

Grade: B+

Max Scherzer

• ERA: 5.74
• WHIP: 1.33
• Ks: 68
• IP: 84.2
• FIP: 5.11

The Scherzer experience was a rollercoaster in what is likely to be his final season. The future Hall-of-Famer was terrible or injured for much of the first half, then re-emerged as a steady contributor down the stretch. He ended on a high with an epic final start. 

Grade: C

Paul Sewald

• ERA: 4.73
• WHIP: 0.99
• Ks: 53
• IP: 53.1
• FIP: 5.24

Expectations were low when the Blue Jays signed Sewald off the proverbial scrap heap. He wound up being a pleasant surprise, providing some solid innings at a time when the pitching staff was running on absolute fumes. He still does a great job at limiting baserunners. 

Grade: B+

Shane Bieber

• ERA: 4.37
• WHIP: 1.42
• Ks: 44
• IP: 55.2
• FIP: 5.15

2026 wound up being a nightmare season for Bieber. He spent the first half of it on the injured list, came back, then got hurt again right when he appeared to be finally rounding into form. It will be fascinating to see what kind of contract he gets in free agency.

Grade: D

Spencer Arrighetti

• ERA: 4.96
• WHIP: 1.38
• Ks: 106
• IP: 110.2
• FIP: 5.44

Arrighetti’s downward slide continued after becoming a Blue Jay. He was dreadful just about every time he took the mound, failing to give the team passable innings when they so desperately needed them. Pitching coach Pete Walker has a project on his hands.

Grade: D-

Spencer Miles

• ERA: 2.63
• WHIP: 1.10
• Ks: 93
• IP: 95.2
• FIP: 2.65

Miles has already cemented himself as one of the best Rule 5 Draft picks in Blue Jays history. There’s nothing fluky about his performance, either, as his high-90s sinker appears as if it will be a deadly weapon out of the bullpen for years to come.

Grade: A+

Trey Yesavage

• ERA: 3.69
• WHIP: 1.14
• Ks: 97
• IP: 97.2
• FIP: 4.22

Yesavage’s follow-up to his postseason breakout wasn’t a smooth ride. He showed flashes of the guy who took the baseball world by storm last October, but also struggled mightily with his command when healthy. His 11.7% walk rate will need improving. 

Grade: C+

Tyler Rogers

• ERA: 1.77
• WHIP: 1.17
• Ks: 40
• IP: 71
• FIP: 3.35

Rogers was arguably better than he’s ever been in his first season with the Blue Jays, flummoxing the American League to his unorthodox delivery and propensity for ground balls. He allowed just two home runs all year. 

Grade: A+

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