The Toronto Blue Jays had their first day off in two weeks on Thursday, and hopes are high they will be rested and ready to soar when they open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at the Rogers Centre on Friday night. The Jays have lost four in a row.
There also was hope that Addison Barger would be in the lineup – he hasn’t played since April 5 because of an ankle injury – on Friday, but manager John Schneider said it will be at least another day before he is activated off the injured list.
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“Most likely tomorrow after playing in a few games in Dunedin (Fla.),” Schneider told Blair and Barker on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Friday afternoon. “The plan is he’s going to travel today and most likely be active tomorrow. We wanted to give him one more day, just kind of recover from playing a few games in a row. When he gets here, he’s got to hit the ground running.”
Barger appeared in three games on a rehab assignment at Class-A Dunedin of the Florida State League and was 2-for-9 hitting. Both hits were home runs, and he drove in three.
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The 26-year-old Barger was a key contributor in 2025 in his first full season in the majors. He hit .243 but drove in 74 runs and drilled 32 doubles and 21 home runs.
Before the injury, Barger opened the season 1-for-19 but is being counted on for a turnaround to help a Toronto team that is second to last in the American League with 147 runs.
Schneider said the Blue Jays are “fairly close” to deciding which player will be the corresponding move to put Barger back on the active roster. He wouldn’t disclose which players were under consideration.
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“It just comes down to runway for everyone, playing time for everyone, how we’re going to use the roster,” he said.
Schneider also offered injury news that wasn’t necessarily positive.
Out since spring training because of a stress fracture in his right elbow, starter Jose Berrios had been rehabbing in the minor leagues. He appeared close to activation but had an MRI of the elbow on Tuesday after his pitches decreased in velocity.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning during a spring training on March 6, 2006, at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Schneider said Friday that Berrios is headed to Arlington, Texas, to have Dr. Keith Meister examine the elbow. Meister, an orthopedic surgeon, is one of the nation’s leading experts in treating elbow injuries. A visit with him often doesn’t end with good news.
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Schneider said the MRI showed more inflammation and “small” structural changes in the elbow.
“We’ll know more Tuesday after Dr. Meister kind of sees him, gets hands on him,” Schneider told Blair and Barker.
Berrios, 31, has spent 10 years in the major leagues, almost perfectly divided between the Blue Jays and Twins. In 275 career games (272 starts), he has a 108-82 career record and 4.08 ERA.
With the Twins, he had a 55-43 record and a 4.08 ERA in 136 games (135 starts). With the Blue Jays, his record is 53-39 and a 4.09 ERA in 139 games (138 starts).
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