The Toronto Blue Jays signed All-Star starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen to a contract for the remainder of the 2026 season on Thursday. The Blue Jays, fresh off of their first World Series appearance since 1993, haven't had the season they expected heading into 2026, with injuries across the board hobbling their team. Their injuries started early, with new signing Cody Ponce suffering a torn ACL in his first start for the team.
Additionally, Jose Berries is out for the season with Tommy John surgery, Patrick Corbin is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury, exciting rookie Trey Yesavage is on the injured list and both Jameson Taillon and Shane Bieber are both out. Lorenzen will help the pitching staff patch things up while their more important starters are out with injury. The veteran right-hander began the year with the Colorado Rockies and made 26 appearances for the team, but his performance didn't warrant a spot on the roster.
Lorenzen posted a 7.08 ERA through 115.2 innings, striking out 82 batters. Understandably, Lorenzen performed worse against opponents at home, posting a 9.12 ERA in a less-than-friendly pitching environment at Coors Field. Elsewhere, Lorenzen had a 5.61 ERA through 67.1 innings pitched.
His last MLB appearance came against the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 15, when he allowed six earned runs through 3.2 innings on the road. Lorenzen will slot directly into the Blue Jays' rotation, as they currently only have four healthy starting pitchers. Dylan Cease leads the line for Toronto, and is putting together a potential Cy Young season in his first season north of the border.
Trade deadline acquisitions Jose Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti are also in the rotation, and veteran Max Scherzer has a spot as well. While Scherzer, Soriano and Arrighetti haven't performed up to standard just yet, the Blue Jays could put together a promising run as the season comes to the end. They're a ways out of the race in the American League East, but with only three games separating them and the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card, they could very well sneak their way back into the postseason with a strong finish to the regular season.
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