Jeff Hoffman put John Schneider back in a brutal bullpen spot Saturday, and Blue Jays fans are running out of patience.
Toronto carried a 5-1 lead into the 9th inning in Baltimore and still walked away with a 6-5 loss after the Orioles scored 5 runs. That is the kind of collapse fans do not shrug off.
It was Hoffman's 3rd blown save of the season and his first since April 14. That part matters because it looked for a while like the worst of his stretch might have passed.
The Blue Jays already pulled him out of the closer role in late April and shifted to a committee look in the 9th. That move bought him some breathing room, but not much trust.
To his credit, Hoffman answered with a solid May. He posted a 2.84 ERA and a 1.64 FIP in 12.2 innings while striking out 17.
That good work crashed hard on Saturday. After striking out the first hitter of the inning, Hoffman hit a batter, gave up a triple, a single, a double, and a walk before Schneider had to pull him.
Why Jeff Hoffman still feels like a problem
This is where the fan frustration really lands. Toronto still has to use him, but nobody seems sure where the safest pocket is anymore.
The 9th inning has been his worst spot by far. Hoffman owns an 8.25 ERA there, and opponents have hit .302 with an .875 OPS across 14 appearances.
His 7th-inning work has been much cleaner, with a 2.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 7 outings. In the 8th, the line jumps back the wrong way to a 7.20 ERA over 5 appearances.
Schneider did have a fair point after the loss. Toronto is grinding through 17 games in 17 days, the pitching staff has been hit by injuries, and the bullpen has been asked to cover too many high-stress innings.
Still, that only softens the blow so much. Hoffman's full 2026 line now sits at a 5.09 ERA in 25 games, and Toronto signed him for $33 million over 3 years to steady late innings, not muddy them.
That is why fans are at the breaking point. Jeff Hoffman still flashes enough to keep getting chances, but every time the Blue Jays hand him a tight game, they are guessing which version is jogging in from the bullpen.
Have Blue Jays fans reached the breaking point with Jeff Hoffman?
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