Two struggling Blue Jays may be costing themselves roster spots

Jays Journal pointed to both players as candidates to play their way off Toronto's roster by May, and the case is easy to see with the club sitting at 7-11.

Nance is the sharper pressure point. He opened 2026 with no minor league options left, which helped him win a roster spot, but that protection only goes so far when the outings keep getting messy.

Through 8 games, Nance owns a 7.04 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP over 7.2 innings. For a bullpen arm supposed to give Schneider steady middle relief, that is a hard line to carry.

The danger for Nance is not just his own line. Jays Journal noted Chase Lee and Brendon Little are pitching well at Triple-A Buffalo, while Yariel Rodriguez and Adam Macko have also opened the minor league season strongly.

That is how a roster squeeze turns real. Toronto does not need to keep running a struggling reliever out there when other arms are starting to push from below.

Nathan Lukes is in a different spot, but the pressure is just as real. He is not losing his ground because of options trouble. He is losing it because the bat has almost disappeared.

Lukes has opened with a .063/.118/.065/.183 slash line in 32 plate appearances across 13 games. Even worse, both of his hits came in the same game on March 31 against Colorado.

That leaves him held hitless in all but 1 game this season, and that is a tough way to survive when injuries to Anthony Santander, Addison Barger, and George Springer already gave him extra room to play.

The difference with Lukes is that Toronto still has flexibility. Jays Journal noted he has 1 minor league option left, which makes Buffalo the cleanest answer if Schneider decides he needs a reset instead of more major league at-bats.

That may actually be the smarter path for both sides. Lukes does not need to wear this slump on the big league bench if the Blue Jays believe everyday Triple-A work can get his timing back.

Nance's path looks harsher because there is less roster room to work with. Lukes can be sent down. Nance would force a tougher decision, and that usually makes every bad inning feel heavier.

So while the original piece named 2 players, the stakes are a little different. Lukes feels like the easier move. Nance feels like the one hanging by the thinner thread.

Either way, Toronto's early 7-11 stumble is already putting real heat on the bottom of the roster, and Schneider may not wait until May if the same names keep dragging.