Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman losing grip on role, Louis Varland up to the task

Jeff Hoffman was called upon to lock down a 4–1 lead in the ninth inning for the Toronto Blue Jays, but things unraveled quickly.

He opened the frame with a strikeout of Zach Neto, only to lose command soon after.

A single by Mike Trout was followed by Hoffman hitting back-to-back batters, putting the tying run on base.

After surrendering an RBI single to Yoan Moncada, manager John Schneider had he’d seen enough.

He turned to fireballer Louis Varland, who ended the threat immediately by inducing a game-ending double play on his first pitch.

Although Hoffman avoided being charged with a blown save, the decision to pull him from such a critical moment raises real questions about his stability in the closer role.

Meanwhile, Varland’s performance continues to stand out, he earned the first save of his career and has yet to allow an earned run across 12.2 innings this season.

He currently follows Padres flamethrower Mason Miller (0.9) with a WAR of 0.8.

At this point, Hoffman’s grip on the ninth inning appears to be slipping.

That’s a concern for a Blue Jays team already dealing with inconsistent offense, as late-game security is essential when runs are hard to come by.

Despite ongoing public support from Schneider, outings like this are clearly eroding trust.

Hoffman has struggled to execute key pitches, frequently allowing baserunners and putting the team in precarious situations.

His numbers reflect those struggles: a -0.6 WAR, a 1–2 record, and a 7.59 ERA. Over 10 appearances (10.2 innings), he has just two saves.

More troubling is his recent stretch, over his last eight outings, he’s allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits, along with six walks and two hit batters.

While he has struck out 14, his 2.06 WHIP and near-10.00 ERA in that span highlight ongoing control issues.

For Toronto, the path forward is simple: Hoffman needs to regain his command.

Whether he remains the closer or shifts into a setup role, throwing consistent strikes and limiting free passes will be critical to restoring confidence.

As the Blue Jays aim to complete the sweep on Wednesday, attention will naturally turn to the bullpen if a save situation arises.

Based on recent events, Varland looks like the most likely option to get the call.

In the series finale, Eric Lauer (1–3, 7.13 ERA) is set to start for Toronto against José Soriano (5–0, 0.28 ERA) for the Angels. First pitch is at 3:07 PM ET on Sportsnet and the Fandual Network.

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