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Varland got 16 first-place votes and finished with 146 points to top Cade Smith (seven firsts, 133 points) and Bryan Baker (six firsts, 111 points). The remaining first-place vote went to Josh Hader, though he still finished fifth behind Aroldis Chapman. Varland posted a 1.27 ERA in 78 innings and saved 35 games after replacing Jeff Hoffman as Toronto’s closer last season. Smith and Baker both had six more saves apiece, but Varland still seemed like the right choice here.

Varland entered in the ninth inning with his sights set on his 35th save of the season. The righty needed just 11 pitches to secure the win for the Blue Jays, ending a three-game losing streak. Varland’s 35 saves put him in a tie for the third-most saves of any pitcher this season, with two games left to go on the schedule.

Varland entered in the top of the ninth with two men on and nobody out but slammed the door to bounce back from Monday’s outing against the Tigers. The right-hander has allowed just five earned runs in the second half. He has a 1.30 ERA on the year and is tracking to be one of the earliest-drafted closers in 2027 fantasy leagues.

The two singles Varland allowed tonight were hit 43 and 52 mph. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto couldn’t make a play on the first one, and the second, with two outs and the bases loaded following two walks, was a grounder to short beaten out by Jeff McNeil, ending the game. It’s the first run Varland has given up since Aug. 8 and just the 10th earned run he’s allowed on the season.

Varland came on with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, but the Royals didn’t put up much of a fight. A groundout, a strikeout and another groundout ended the game. He threw 13 pitches. Varland has a 1.15 ERA in his breakout season as the Blue Jays closer.

Tasked with the middle of the Cleveland order, he allowed a hard single to José Ramírez and a walk to Nathaniel Lowe before striking out Angel Genao on three pitches to end the game. Varland hit a (relative) rough patch at the beginning of the month, but now has reeled off eight scoreless outings in a row to lower his ERA to 1.18.

Varland took the mound in the top of the ninth to close out the game against the Mariners with a one-run lead. He made an excellent play to beat the runner to first on a groundout to retire the first batter, then struck out the next before inducing a weak fly-out to end the game with his 31st save of the season.

A multi-inning master, this was Varland’s 13th outing this season getting four or more outs. His incredible efficiency makes those outings easier than they are for most, just like here where it only took him 15 pitches and he faced six total batters. He’s the seventh reliever to reach 30 saves so far this season and his 1.20 ERA is only higher than Mason Miller’s among all closers.

Varland got the call to protect a one-run lead in the final frame at Yankee Stadium and managed to work around a leadoff double by Jazz Chisholm Jr. to preserve the narrow victory. He struck out Austin Wells, coaxed a ground ball from José Caballero and struck out Trent Grisham to strand the potential tying run in scoring position. The 28-year-old has been a revelation this season, converting 29 of 30 save chances to go along with a microscopic 1.22 ERA and 82/18 K/BB ratio across 66 1/3 innings of work. He’s one save away from becoming the sixth stopper to reach the 30-save plateau this season.

Varland was summoned in the top of the ninth to close out the game against the Yankees with a three-run lead. He shut the door on New York, striking out the side on 13 pitches to convert his 28th save of the season with a 1.26 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 79/17 K/BB ratio across 64 1/3 innings.

The Blue Jays led 6-1 heading into the ninth inning, but the Red Sox rallied, creating a save situation for Varland. He retired both hitters he faced to preserve the win and earn his 26th. Varland came out of nowhere this season to become the Blue Jays closer and with a 1.30 ERA he’s been one of the best in the game.

Varland got the call to protect a one-run lead in the final frame and managed to work around a leadoff double from Jarren Duran to preserve the win. The 28-year-old has blossomed into an upper-echelon fantasy stopper, converting 25 of 26 save opportunities this season.

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.