Garcia (back) is available for Friday's game against the Twins, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia hasn't pitched in a game since April 28 but is ready to take the mound this weekend versus Minnesota. The right-hander has been dominant this season with a 0.68 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB across 13.1 innings, and he should continue to serve as the setup man to closer Jordan Romano.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Might return Friday
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Garcia (back) didn't get used in Wednesday's win over the Phillies but could be available Friday against the Twins, MLB.com reports. "He's feeling better," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Wednesday's game. "Hopefully he'll be ready to roll on Friday."
The right-hander hasn't pitched since April 28 due to back soreness, but the Jays didn't elect to place him on the IL. Garcia has been the team's most effective reliever this season, posting a 0.68 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB with a win, two saves and four holds in 13 appearances.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Hopes to be available Wednesday
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The Blue Jays hope Garcia (back) will be available to pitch Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia's last appearance came all the way back on April 28 as he deals with a nagging back issue. He's apparently feeling better, though, and as long as he checks out well during a pregame throwing session he is expected to be available out of the bullpen Wednesday. Garcia has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season, allowing just one run with a 16:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Dealing with back soreness
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Garcia was unavailable for Friday's game against the Nationals due to back soreness, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Garcia reportedly started having issues with his back after his previous appearance Wednesday. Manager John Schneider said after Friday's contest that Garcia is considered day-to-day, so it's unlikely the right-hander will need to spend any time on the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Collects second save
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Garcia picked up the save Monday against the Yankees. He retired all three batters he faced without recording a strikeout.
Garcia recorded his second straight save Monday night after earning his first Saturday against Colorado. This save wasn't easy as he faced the heart of the Yankees order, but he smoothly retired Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo on nine pitches. Although Garcia has collected the last two Toronto saves, he looks to move back into a setup role soon as Jordan Romano (elbow) is slated to return this week.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Secures first save of 2024
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Garcia struck out the side in the ninth inning against the Rockies on Saturday to earn his first save of the season.
Chad Green, who recorded the Blue Jays' first two saves this season, pitched a perfect eighth inning against the middle of Colorado's lineup. Garcia then faced the bottom of the order in the ninth and struck out Brendan Rodgers, Elehuris Montero and Brenton Doyle on a total of 12 pitches. While it was an impressive outing, Garcia may still be behind Green in the pecking order, and Jordan Romano (elbow) has already made a couple rehab appearances at Triple-A. With that, Garcia doesn't seem to have much of a window to earn additional saves.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Picks up first win
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Garcia (1-0) was credited with the win in Friday's victory over the Yankees, striking out one in two-thirds of a scoreless inning of relief.
He entered a 0-0 tie with one out in the sixth inning and needed only seven pitches to retire Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Garcia was then rewarded with the win when Ernie Clement put the game's first run on the board with a solo shot in the top of the seventh. The right-hander has been kept in a high-leverage setup role while Jordan Romano (elbow) has been sidelined, with Chad Green collecting the Blue Jays' first save of the season Friday, and Garcia has yet to allow a run in 2.1 innings with a 2:0 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Could be part of closer committee
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Garcia could be part of a closer by committee for the Blue Jays while Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) are out, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
It sounds like manager John Schneider doesn't plan to settle on one guy during what the team hopes is a short absence for Romano and Swanson. Mitchell lists Chad Green at the top of the pecking order, followed by Garcia and Tim Mayza. Garcia collected three saves while compiling a 79:15 K:BB over 66 frames for Toronto in 2023.
Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Looms as closer alternative
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Garcia could be in the mix for save chances if Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) are unavailable at the start of the season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
As things stand right now, the Blue Jays have not ruled Romano or Swanson out for Opening Day, but given that they're both nursing arm injuries, nothing is assured. Garcia looms as potentially next in line to close and has had a strong spring, posting a 2.25 ERA and 7:2 K:BB over eight innings. The 33-year-old notched three saves for Toronto in 2023, producing a nice 79:15 K:BB across 66 frames along the way.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Solid spring so far
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Garcia tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
Entering the game in the third inning to follow Ricky Tiedemann, Garcia retired Kerry Carpenter, Javier Baez, Jake Rogers and Colt Keith for his fourth scoreless spring appearance in his last five games. The 33-year-old righty hasn't been dominant in camp, posting a 5:2 K:BB through seven innings, but he's on track to fill a setup role once again in front of Toronto closer Jordan Romano. Over the last two seasons for the Blue Jays, Garcia has racked up 41 holds with a 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 137:31 K:BB through 127 innings.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Under contract for 2024
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Garcia's $6 million option for 2024 vested Sunday during his relief appearance in Toronto's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Angels, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Though Garcia took his fourth loss of the season while allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit in the outing, he was at least able to earn himself a guaranteed contract for 2024 in the process. Per the terms of the two-year deal Garcia signed with Toronto in November 2021, Garcia triggered the $6 million option since the relief appearance was his 110th between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The 32-year-old right-hander will remain locked into a key late-inning role for the Blue Jays for the foreseeable future, though his path to picking up saves in the short-term became more challenging after Toronto acquired hard-throwing righty Jordan Hicks from St. Louis on Sunday to bolster the back end of the bullpen while All-Star closer Jordan Romano (back) is on the injured list.
Garcia recorded the final out of Friday's 4-1 win over the Angels to collect his third save of the season.
Jordan Romano started the ninth inning but loaded the bases with two outs before being lifted after his lower back locked up, and Garcia was able to retire Mickey Moniak to preserve the win. An MRI on Romano's back after the All-Star break didn't reveal any structural issues, but the Blue Jays will likely send their closer for further testing to try and determine the cause of the recurring trouble. Garcia is the next man up in the bullpen -- all three of his saves on the season have come in July, and he has a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB through 10 innings on the month.
Garcia picked up the save Saturday against the Diamondbacks, allowing two hits while striking out one over a scoreless inning.
With Jordan Romano still recovering from a lower back injury, Garcia entered the contest with a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning and got into trouble early after allowing singles to Lourdes Gurriel and Jake McCarthy. However, the right-handed reliever managed to pitch his way out of it, needing just four pitches to retire the final two batters and secure his second save of the season. Garcia is now 2-for-2 in save opportunities and has not allowed a run since June 17 against the Rangers.
