Crowded Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation will see someone get bumped in 2026

Dylan Cease and Kevin Gausman form a clear one-two punch at the top of the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation.

The bigger question comes after that: how does the rest of the staff shake out behind them?

Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, José Berrios (potentially), and Cody Ponce all have cases to make, but the hierarchy isn’t exactly settled.

Trey Yesavage, at minimum, looks ready to step directly into a big-league rotation.

An improved slider and a growing confidence in his arsenal have accelerated his timeline.

The biggest separator for him will be command. Right now, he’s thriving more on raw stuff than precision, and his arm slot can make it difficult to consistently repeat his delivery. Still, the upside is obvious.

Steamer projects Yesavage to pile up strikeouts immediately, forecasting 162 punchouts over 146 2/3 innings.

That works out to a 9.9 K/9 — a rate that would place him among the top 20 starters in baseball.

The projection also calls for a 3.79 ERA across 34 appearances, including 24 starts.

If he stays healthy, Yesavage profiles as at least a solid No. 3 starter, with the potential for more if his command continues to progress.

Cody Ponce arrives with one of the more intriguing résumés in the mix. Across 180.2 innings in the KBO, he posted a dominant 1.89 ERA and a 2.15 FIP.

Strikeouts were never a defining part of his profile in MLB or Japan, where his K-rate never topped 20.1 percent, but that changed dramatically in 2025.

His strikeout rate exploded to 36.2 percent, fueling a 17–1 season and earning him KBO MVP honors.

Along the way, he even set a new single-game strikeout record, surpassing his former Blue Jays teammate Hyun Jin Ryu.

Toronto signed Ponce as a starter, and he’ll likely be given every opportunity to claim a rotation spot.

Still, with six viable starting options on the roster, his ultimate role remains uncertain.

Then there’s Jose Berrios. His season ended with a move to the bullpen and his first injured list stint in a decade-long MLB career.

Being left off the postseason roster only added to the frustration, and he was open about his displeasure. With five other starters now in the picture, the situation feels increasingly awkward.

Berrios had built significant credibility and respect around the league before last season’s turbulence, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him rebound.

Even so, entering camp, he appears to be sixth in the pecking order.

A six-man rotation could be explored early on, but unless injuries intervene, either Berrios or Ponce may ultimately be squeezed out.

Shane Bieber adds another layer of intrigue.

Reports surfaced that he dealt with some forearm fatigue late in 2025.

Given that he was returning from Tommy John surgery, that’s not immediately alarming — but it’s something the Jays will monitor closely in spring training.

If he’s throwing his usual bullpens early on, there’s little reason for concern. Any delays, however, could quickly reshape the rotation picture.

On paper, heading into pitchers and catchers reporting, the rotation lines up as Cease and Gausman at the top, followed by Yesavage, then Bieber, with Ponce and Berrios battling for the final spot.

The complication with a crowded rotation is roster balance. Toronto can’t afford to leave the bullpen thin, especially with Rule 5 picks Spencer Miles and Angel Bastardo competing for jobs, alongside more established arms like Mason Fluharty.

In that context, the health and availability of Yimi Garcia looms large — and may end up being the swing factor in how the bullpen ultimately takes shape.

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