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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Option reversed, placed on IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays placed Estrada on the MLB 15-day injured list April 5 with a right shoulder impingement, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Estrada was originally optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, but the team later discovered a shoulder issue that he suffered while playing in the big leagues, so he'll land on the major-league IL. He'll be eligible to return to action Monday, and when he is ready to return the Blue Jays will likely send him back down to Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Sharp in bulk relief duties
Rotowire
Estrada didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the White Sox, walking two and striking out three over four scoreless, no-hit innings of relief.
Entering the game to begin the second inning after opener Mason Fluharty spotted Chicago an early 1-0 lead, Estrada fired 44 of 66 pitches for strikes in an effective 2026 debut. The right-hander was briefly the pitcher of record when the Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth, but the White Sox immediately struck back in the bottom of the frame. Estrada's performance may earn him another turn through the rotation, either as a traditional starter or a bulk reliever, but with off days coming Thursday and next Monday, Toronto may elect to simply skip employing a fifth starter in the short term.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Dispatched to minors
Rotowire
Toronto optioned Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
Estrada was excellent in a bulk-relief outing Saturday, holding the White Sox hitless over four innings while striking out three batters and walking two. However, he threw 66 pitches and would presumably be sidelined for several days as a result, so the Blue Jays opted to shuffle him down to Buffalo in order to beef up the team's bullpen. Given Estrada's performance Saturday, it seems very likely he'll be back with the major-league club relatively soon.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Promotion made official
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Estrada from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
The move has been in the works for the last 24 hours after Cody Ponce suffered a sprained right ACL in Monday's start against Colorado. Estrada will be an option to step into Ponce's spot in the rotation this upcoming weekend, but he's also likely available in relief the next couple days. Estrada appeared in two regular-season games with Toronto last season, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits and one walk across 7.1 innings of work. He struck out 10 and hit two batters.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Promotion on tap
Rotowire
Estrada will be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
This upcoming promotion likely means that Cody Ponce (knee), who exited Monday's start due to injury, is headed for an IL stint. Estrada will be brought up to provide length for Toronto, at least until Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Jose Berrios (elbow) or Shane Bieber (elbow) can return from the injured list, and a number of off days on the Jays' schedule in early April could mean the 26-year-old righty is needed for only one or two starts. Estrada made two relief appearances for the Blue Jays a year ago, allowing seven runs while striking out 10 and walking one over 7.1 regular-season innings.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Dispatched to Buffalo
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.
Estrada will finish the Grapefruit League with a 4.76 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 11.1 innings. Those numbers are improvements from the 5.73 ERA and 1.45 WHIP he posted in 97.1 Triple-A frames last year, but the Blue Jays will send him back to the minors to continue developing.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Has path to bullpen job
Rotowire
Estrada could begin the season on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Some dominoes are falling on the Toronto staff due to injuries. With Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow) all set to begin the year on the IL, Eric Lauer is expected to move into the rotation, leaving a vacancy in the bullpen for a long reliever or swingman. Estrada appears to be the leading candidate for the gig after building up to about 40 pitches in his most recent spring outing and posting a 4.50 ERA and 3:2 K:BB through 10 innings over five Grapefruit League appearances (one start). The 26-year-old right-hander is coming off a shaky 2025, as he produced a 5.73 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 99:32 K:BB in 97.1 innings at Triple-A before getting tagged for seven runs in his first 7.1 big-league innings, albeit with an encouraging 10:1 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Returned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Estrada served as the 27th man during Tuesday's doubleheader in Detroit, getting knocked around for six runs over 3.1 innings in the first game. The righty will return to the rotation at Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Called up for doubleheader
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Estrada from Triple-A Buffalo and have designated him as their 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader with the Orioles.
Toronto also recalled lefty Easton Lucas from Triple-A to start the first game of the twin bill, but since Lucas will be taking the hill on three days' rest, the Blue Jays could look to Estrada to cover multiple innings of relief behind him. Estrada has been working primarily as a starter with Buffalo this season but made his MLB debut in long relief back on July 5 against the Angels, tossing four innings and giving up one earned run on two hits and no walks.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Demoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
Estrada was sent back to the minors to clear room on the 26-man roster for Ryan Burr (shoulder), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. After getting his first big-league call-up Friday, Estrada impressed in Saturday's 11-inning win over the Angels, giving up one earned run on two hits and no walks while striking out four over four frames of long relief.
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Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Selected to big-league roster
Rotowire
The Blue Jays selected Estrada's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
Lefty Justin Bruihl was optioned to Triple-A, and the right-handed Estrada will replace him in the Toronto bullpen after putting up a 4.75 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 66:21 K:BB over 15 starts (60.2 innings) with Buffalo to begin the campaign. Estrada, 26, will be making his MLB debut if/when he gets into a game.
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