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TOR • Pitcher • #23
about 22 hours ago
Hoffman has pitched two hitless innings since losing his closer’s role last week, and he was particularly sharp in the 10-pitch outing tonight. He’s now struck out 27 of the 64 hitters he’s faced this year. That 42.2 percent K rate that would obliterate his previous high of 33.6 percent.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
5 days ago
Jeff Hoffman will attempt to iron out his issues in lower-leverage appearances. The Jays won’t say as such, but this probably makes Louis Varland the favorite for saves. Pitching well for the Jays at the moment are Varland (0.00 ERA in 13 innings pitched), Tyler Rogers (0.73 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched) and Braydon Fisher (2.08 ERA in 13 innings pitched) — saves will likely come out of that trio. But Varland is the easy pickup in fantasy leagues where he’s available.
Source: Mitch Bannon
TOR • Pitcher • #23
7 days ago
Schneider claimed that he doesn’t want to make a knee-jerk decision, but “we’ll re-evaluate everything, talk with him, see how he’s doing. He’s going through it, obviously, a little bit.” Nothing is certain, but that does sound like a manager who is thinking about giving his closer a break from high-leverage innings while they try to figure out how to help him. “How can we be there to support you? How can we help you get ahead of hitters? Is it mechanical? Is it between the ears a little bit? What’s going on and how can we help?” We still believe the Blue Jays would like to have Hoffman close, so he could easily return to the role if the team figures out what’s going on, but Louis Varland needs to be added in all formats in case the Blue Jays do decide to give Hoffman a break from closing games.
Source: Shi Davidi
TOR • Pitcher • #23
9 days ago
Hoffman has been awful to begin 2025, but this looked good. The 33-year-old did allow a hit, but he struck out the heart of the Angels’ order to procure his third save of the season while lowering his ERA to 6.97. The Blue Jays are showing faith in Hoffman, and for now, fantasy managers should reticently do the same.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
11 days ago
Hoffman allowed three hits and a walk, and while he struck out two, it’s tough to get excited about a pair of punchouts in a game where you give up a salami in one inning. That grand slam came in a 2-2 game in the eighth inning by Corbin Carroll, and it sees his ERA inflate to an ugly 7.71. Hoffman had his issues in 2025 as well despite Toronto reaching the World Series, and while there’s no obvious answer behind him to close out games, this is a situation that has to be monitored.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
15 days ago
Tuesday night saw a good amount of blown saves, and there were two in this game alone. Hoffman was handed a 6-4 lead, but it didn’t matter because he simply couldn’t throw strikes with three free passes. That’s already the third blown save of the season for the 33-year-old, and at some point,you have to wonder how long Toronto can put up with this. Fantasy managers should be prepared for a potential change in the coming weeks, if not sooner.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
21 days ago
Hoffman had to face the top of the Dodgers order today. He struck out Shohei Ohtani before Kyle Tucker singled and Will Smith walked. He then got Freddie Freeman to chase strike three and induced an easy groundout from Max Muncy to end the game. Hoffman is just 2-for-4 saving games, but he has a 15/2 K/BB (with the only previous walk being intentional) in 6 2/3 innings.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
26 days ago
Hoffman retired the first two batters before Derek Hill dropped down a bunt that tied the game after Tyler Heineman, who had just replaced Alejandro Kirk, made an errant throw to first. Hill wound up on second on what was ruled a single. Tristan Peters followed with a clean single to end it. It’s Hoffman’s second blown save, but this won’t be held against him. He’s allowed one earned run and posted an 11/0 K/BB in 4 2/3 innings to open the season.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
29 days ago
Hoffman came in to pitch in a 5-1 game, so no save. He allowed a hit, but he was able to keep the runner at bay while also adding a strikeout. Hoffman has allowed one run over his first three appearances with one save thus far.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
about 1 month ago
Hoffman did allow a hit, but he was able to keep the runner at bay while converting his first save of 2026. It’s nice to see after he blew Saturday’s save, and it’s worth noting Hoffman was up and down — to put it mildly — in 2025. For now, however, he’s entrenched as the Toronto closer.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
about 1 month ago
Hoffman struck out four in the ninth, with Tyler Soderstrom reaching on a wild pitch. However, one batter before that, Shea Langeliers hit a game-tying homer on a 98-mph fastball at the top of the zone to tie the contest. There was no real harm after the Jays were able to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, but given that the team doesn’t have a ton of confidence in Hoffman in the ninth, it’d be for the best if he doesn’t blow another save chance right away.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
about 2 months ago
Hoffman fortifies Team USA’s high-leverage relief mix heading into a WBC semifinal showdown matchup against a star-studded Dominican Republic squad following a narrow win over Canada on Friday night. The 33-year-old Blue Jays closer recorded a career-high 33 saves last year in his Toronto debut. The move also marks the official end of Kershaw’s professional career after 18 seasons. Next stop, Cooperstown.
Source: Shi Davidi
TOR • Pitcher • #23
about 2 months ago
Hoffman was sharp today and a little extra velocity on his pitches; his six fastballs averaged 97.2 mph, compared to 96.4 mph last year, and his two sliders were up 1.8 mph to 88.8 mph. Of course, it was just eight pitches coming on a bit more than four months of rest.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
3 months ago
The Jays looked at other closing candidates since as Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez over the winter after Hoffman’s struggles last year, but after they ultimately signed Tyler Rogers, there was really no doubt that Hoffman would retain the job. Hoffman finished his first season in Toronto with a 4.37 ERA and was 33-for-40 closing out games.
Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith
TOR • Pitcher • #23
6 months ago
When asked about is confidence in Hoffman in the ninth inning — following him blowing a save in Game 7 of the World Series by serving up a game-tying solo homer to light-hitting infielder Miguel Rojas — Atkins noted that Hoffman “would be open to anything that makes us better.” He also added that Hoffman doesn’t care what role he’s used in, saying, “The great thing about Jeff is he’s not married to that.” Hoffman converted 33 saves in 40 opportunities for the Jays during the regular season, picking up nine wins and seven losses along the way. It sounds like they could be in the market for an upgrade in the ninth inning if the right opportunity presents itself over the winter.
Source: Rob Longley
TOR • Pitcher • #23
6 months ago
Hoffman was called upon with the bases empty and two outs in the eighth inning and he got Tommy Edman to ground out harmlessly to second base. He then returned for the ninth with a chance to close out Toronto’s first championship in over three decades. He got Enrique Hernandez on a swinging third strike before serving up a game-tying solo home run on a full-count offering to Miguel Rojas. He then rallied to retire Shohei Ohtani on a fly ball and Will Smith on strikes to end the inning. Hoffman finishes the postseason with a stellar 1.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and an 18/4 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings in 10 appearances.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
6 months ago
Hoffman was called upon with the bases empty and two outs in the eighth inning and he got Tommy Edman to ground out harmlessly to second base. He then returned for the ninth where he got Enrique Hernandez on a swinging third strike before serving up a game-tying solo home run on a full-count offering to Miguel Rojas. He then rallied to retire Shohei Ohtani on a fly ball and Will Smith on strikes to end the inning. Hoffman finishes the postseason with a stellar 1.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and an 18/4 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings in 10 appearances.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
6 months ago
Hoffman was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the final frame after throwing a season-high 35 pitches less than 24 hours earlier in a win-or-go-home Game 6 victory. The 32-year-old stopper struck out Leo Rivas and pinch-hitter Dominic Canzone to open the frame before getting Julio Rodríguez to chase a slider outside of the zone to preserve the victory.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
6 months ago
Perhaps the one little victory the Mariners had tonight is that all of their best hitters got another look at Hoffman ahead of Game 7. Of course, there’s the chance the Jays could bypass Hoffman in a close Game 7, as they will have Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer available out of the pen. Hoffman has now allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in the postseason. He’s thrown four scoreless innings versus the Mariners.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
7 months ago
Hoffman gave up an RBI double to Aaron Judge in the ninth, but it came with the Blue Jays leading 5-1 so no real harm. The 32-year-old has his first postseason save, and he’ll have a chance to add to that total beginning Sunday when Toronto hosts the Mariners or Tigers to begin the ALCS on Sunday.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
7 months ago
Hoffman didn’t make things easy on himself in the ninth inning of this one, issuing a leadoff walk to Josh Lowe and a one-out walk to Hunter Feduccia to put the tying runs on base. He battled back though to get Chandler Simpson to bounce into a fielder’s choice and then retired Yandy Diaz on a ground out to third to put the game away. He has now amassed 33 saves and nine victories on the season.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
7 months ago
Hoffman’s save was his 32nd of the year. There were certainly some rough patches along the way as his 4.50 ERA on the year indicates, but the 32-year-old who signed with Toronto last offseason has paid off his draft price with his performance in the other categories. Hoffman has nine wins, a 1.17 WHIP and 83 strikeouts to go along with his 32 saves.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
7 months ago
Hoffman was called upon to put out the fire with a man at third base and one out in the ninth inning and the Blue Jays clinging to a two-run advantage. Hoffman did allow an RBI single to Brandon Lowe and issued a walk to Junior Caminero, but he battled back to strike out Josh Lowe and Jake Mangum to end the ballgame. Hoffman now holds a 4.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and an 83/23 K/BB ratio over 64 innings while converting 31 saves and recording nine victories.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
The Blue Jays were facing a 3-1 deficit heading to the ninth inning, but they rallied to tie the game, setting the stage for Hoffman to work the top half of the 10th inning. He got Victor Caratini to bounce into a fielder’s choice where Jose Altuve was cut down trying to get to third. Hoffman then retired Matt Wallner on a foul pop to first base and Jake Meyers on a fly ball to center to end the inning. Despite the elevated 4.70 ERA, Hoffman has done a nice job in his first season with the Jays, posting a 1.16 WHIP and 78/21 K/BB ratio over 61 1/3 innings while converting 30 of his 37 save chances and securing a whopping nine victories.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
Hoffman gave up a groundball single, but he retired the other three batters he faced in a rather smooth inning. Hoffman also pitched a scoreless inning with a four-run lead Sunday. He’d given up eight runs and taken two blown saves in his previous four appearances.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
Hoffman was called on to pitch the top of the ninth inning against the Brewers with the game tied. He surrendered back-to-back solo homers to Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich, followed by a walk and double before he was replaced on the mound with two outs. The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled with Toronto this season, posting a 5.11 ERA over 56 1/3 innings.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
The Blue Jays came storming back against the Twins bullpen with a run in the sixth inning and two more in the eighth to take the lead. Afterwards, Hoffman came in to slam the door shut. He did let the tying run reach scoring position via a Luke Keaschall double, but stranded him there. It was comforting to see him close this one out after imploding for four runs, a loss, and a blown save against these same Twins in the previous game.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
Mickey Gasper tied the game with his first major league homer leading off the ninth, and Matt Wallner delivered a go-ahead three-run blast before Hoffman was pulled with two outs. Hoffman came into this one having allowed just one run in 10 appearances, but now his ERA is back up to 4.77. His 74/19 K/BB in 54 2/3 innings is great, but it’s hard to overcome giving up two homers every nine innings, which is what Hoffman has done this year. He’ll probably keep closing for now, but it’d be best if he doesn’t have another bad outing right away.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
Hoffman got the call in the ninth to close out the game with a one-run lead. He walked the leadoff man. After a stolen base, Javier Sanoja drove in the game-tying run on a base hit before Hoffman finished out the inning to go to extras. The 32-year-old right-hander is now 28-for-33 in save chances with a 4.17 ERA across 54 innings.
TOR • Pitcher • #23
8 months ago
Hoffman got Liam Hicks on a ground ball to second base, Heriberto Hernandez on a comebacker to the mound before issuing a two-out walk to Eric Wagaman. Not to worry though, as he came back to get Javier Sanoja on a ground ball to third base to end the ballgame. The 32-year-old hurler now holds a 4.10 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 73/16 K/BB ratio over 52 2/3 innings while recording 28 saves and eight victories.