Blue Jays Notes: Barger, Pinango, Berrios, Scherzer, Bieber, Garcia, Kirk, Lukes
As expected, Addison Barger was activated from the Blue Jays’ 10-day injured list today. The team announced that player as an outfielder Yohendrick Pinango optioned to Triple-A Buffalo in the corresponding move.
The 2026 season has been a watch for Barger so far, between his five weeks in the IL and his cold start at the plate. Barger had one hit and three walks in his first 23 plate appearances, resulting in a .053/.174/.105 slash line. He hasn’t played since April 5, when he injured both ankles while trying to hit a grounder for a first base hit. The first so-called “bilateral ankle discomfort” was officially designated as a left ankle sprain when Barger was placed on the injured list.
Barger returns looking to get his season off to a good start, and get back to the form that makes him a dominant player in the 2025 regular season and especially during Toronto’s postseason run. With Kazuma Okamoto now firmly establishing himself as an everyday third baseman, Barger will be used mostly in right field, though his ability to play third base in a pinch could come in handy in late game situations or if Okamoto is given a day off or a DH day.
Since Barger is a left-handed hitter who will be playing an outfield role, Pinango has been a little short on the active roster, but manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling and other reporters that the team was impressed with Pinango’s stint in the majors. Pinango hit .423/.444/.462 in his first 27 plate appearances as a big leaguer, and he’s likely to get another look in Toronto sometime in 2026.
Schneider gave some injury updates to the media (including The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon) yesterday, and good news about other position players. Alejandro Kirk is pitching and started swinging this week in the final stages of his recovery from thumb surgery, too Nathan Lukes he has started working out as he recovers from muscle pain.
Before the game, Shane Bieber will throw a live bullpen session on Tuesday, too I’m Garcia started a minor league repair job. Both right-handers started the season on the 15-day IL before being moved to the 60-day IL to give the duo more time to build arm strength. Bieber dealt with arm fatigue during the preseason while Garcia underwent surgery last September to repair a scar on his pitching elbow.
The idea is not clear Jose Berrioswho is willing to visit Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday. An MRI on Berrios’ right elbow revealed inflammation but also “changes from his previous stress fracture.” What this really means for Berrios probably won’t be known until after his consultation, or if what type of surgery might be discussed.
At the very least, it doesn’t look like Berrios will be back on the mound anytime soon, so the veteran right-hander in 2026 will continue to be held for a while. What started as elbow inflammation and a fracture in his right elbow put Berrios on the 15-day IL to start the season, though it appears he didn’t experience any real discomfort until his recent Triple-A start.
Max Scherzer He’s also on the 15-day IL, sidelined by ankle swelling and tendinitis in his right arm. The ankle problem appears to have subsided significantly, and the forearm problem is being treated with a cortisone shot, so Scherzer will not be able to pitch again for five days. Since his IL stint began on April 25, Scherzer will apparently miss longer than the minimum amount of time, and a late May return seems possible if the cortisone shot is fixed and Scherzer’s pitching progress is good.
