Blue Jays confirm Trey Yesavage's next start

Berrios is not quite ready yet. After throwing a side session on Friday and coming out of it feeling good, he is lined up for 1 more rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday as the club keeps building his volume.

That matters, but it also clears up something bigger for Toronto’s immediate plans. With Berrios staying on the rehab track for at least 1 more turn, the Blue Jays have confirmed that Yesavage will take Sunday’s start.

And that is not a small scheduling detail. Toronto’s rotation has been in flux for weeks, so every confirmed start right now says something about who John Schneider is trusting and who still needs more runway.

Yesavage has already forced his way into that conversation. He returned recently after a shoulder impingement delayed the start of his season, and the Blue Jays have been careful but clear about wanting him back in the mix.

That is why this Berrios update lands a little differently. On the surface, it is a rehab note. In practice, it is Toronto handing Yesavage another meaningful turn in the rotation.

Berrios still appears close. MLB’s injury report said on May 1 that he will make 1 more rehab start in Buffalo to increase his pitch count, then is likely to return to the Blue Jays.

So this is not about Berrios hitting a setback. It is about the club choosing not to rush the final step, especially with an elbow issue that has already taken enough time. ESPN’s injury tracker also reflects that Sunday rehab plan.

That choice opens the door for Yesavage again, and Toronto has reason to keep looking at him. When he wrapped up his rehab assignment in mid-April, the Blue Jays got what they wanted most: 71 pitches, 4.1 innings, and fastball velocity in the 93 to 95 mph range.

The bigger point is role clarity. A week ago, Toronto’s pitching picture still looked crowded and unstable at the same time, with Yesavage, Berrios and other injured arms all circling returns while the active staff tried to hold together.

Now the club has made at least 1 thing clear. Yesavage is not just rotation depth waiting around for Berrios to reclaim the job. He is the arm Toronto wants on the mound Sunday.

That puts some weight on the outing. Every Yesavage start now matters twice, once for the game itself and once for what it tells the Blue Jays about how stable he can be while Berrios finishes the last stretch of rehab.

For Berrios, the message is simple. Keep building, get through Buffalo cleanly, and the return should be close. For the Blue Jays, the Sunday headline is already set: Trey Yesavage gets the ball again.