The Blue Jays claimed Cuas off waivers from the Cubs on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Cuas was jettisoned off Chicago's 40-man roster last week after posting a 7.43 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 13.1 innings in the big leagues. His Triple-A numbers haven't been much better (6.35 ERA, 1.68 WHIP), and while he will reclaim a 40-man roster spot upon joining his new organization, the 29-year-old righty surely has plenty of work to do in Buffalo before the Blue Jays can consider adding him to their MLB bullpen.
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Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Sitting Sunday
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Clement is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Clement will begin Sunday's game in the dugout after going 0-for-4 with one strikeout in Saturday's 6-3 loss. Addison Barger will start at the hot corner Sunday and bat sixth against Cleveland right-hander Triston McKenzie.
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Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Sitting Sunday as expected
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Varsho (back) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Guardians.
Varsho will be given the day off Sunday after experiencing lower left back tightness on his swing in the ninth inning in Saturday's loss, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. The good news for Varsho is his injury is believed to be short-term, and the 27-year-old is expected to avoid a stint on the IL. Kevin Kiermaier will start in center field Sunday and bat ninth against Cleveland right-hander Triston McKenzie.
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Blue Jays' Steward Berroa: Recalled by Toronto
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The Blue Jays recalled Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
The move comes with Orelvis Martinez being placed on the restricted list after being suspended 80 games for violating the league's drug prevention and treatment program, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. Berroa was promoted to Triple-A in 2023, and this season with Buffalo he's slashing .295/.380/.451 with seven home runs and 32 RBI over 222 plate appearances while also stealing 29 bases.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Suspended 80 games for PED use
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Martinez was suspended for 80 games for violating the league's drug prevention and treatment program, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Two days after making his major-league debut against the Guardians on Friday, Martinez was suspended by the league after testing positive for clomiphene. In a statement following Martinez's suspension, Toronto general manager Ross Atkins fully supported the league's suspension of the 22-year-old prospect and said that the Blue Jays "will do everything in our power to ensure [Martinez] has learned from this mistake," per Davidi. The suspension will keep Martinez out of action until the tail end of the season, with a possible return date of Sept. 23 lining up with the start of the Blue Jays' penultimate series of the season against the Red Sox.
Schneider went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Guardians.
Schneider has gone 7-for-28 (.250) with three homers over his last eight games. He's usually hit leadoff this season, but he was dropped to sixth in the order Saturday, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa moving up to the top spot and slugging two homers of his own. Schneider's .227 batting average isn't great for a leadoff hitter, though his .319 on-base percentage is a bit more passable. He's added 10 homers, 35 RBI, 32 runs scored, three stolen bases and 15 doubles over 251 plate appearances. While he could ultimately stick lower in the order, Schneider's short-term playing time should be safe after Daulton Varsho left Saturday's contest with back soreness.
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Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Two solo shots in loss
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Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs and a hit-by-pitch in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Guardians.
Kiner-Falefa had not posted an extra-base hit over his previous 10 games, though he hit .281 (9-for-32) in that span. The 29-year-old also snapped a homer drought dating back to May 26. For the season, he's up to six homers in 75 contests, matching his total form 115 games a year ago. He's added a .281/.325/.408 slash line with 31 RBI, 22 runs scored and three stolen bases. He had exclusively hit in the bottom third of the order, but he was batting leadoff for Saturday's contest -- a move up the order would likely lead to better overall production if he can stay there.
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Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Hit hard Saturday
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Berrios (6-6) allowed five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Guardians.
The Guardians aren't known for power, but they tagged Berrios with three home runs -- Bo Naylor, Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan all took the right-hander deep. With seven homers allowed over his last four starts, Berrios' trouble with the long ball is becoming a concern. He's given up 14 runs across 22.2 innings in that span and now has a 3.43 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 68:23 K:BB through 97 innings across 16 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home in a difficult matchup versus the Yankees.
Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho: Has back soreness, off Sunday
Rotowire
Varsho experienced back tightness late in Saturday's game against the Guardians and will be given the day off for Sunday's series finale, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Varsho grounded out in the ninth inning but never made it out of the batters box, immediately grabbing at his lower back after making contact. Though the injury doesn't seem of much concern, Varsho will be held out of Sunday's contest. Varsho went 0-for-4 with a strikeout during Saturday's 6-3 loss.
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Blue Jays' Jordan Romano: Shut down from throwing
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Romano experienced right elbow soreness after long tossing from 120 feet Friday and has been shut down from throwing, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Romano was slated to throw off the mound over the weekend, but he will now take a break while the team determines the next steps. Prior to landing on the injured list June 1, the 31-year-old closer registered eight saves across 15 outings with a 6.59 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 13.2 innings.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Picks up first big-league hit
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Martinez went 1-for-3 in Friday's loss to the Guardians.
Getting his first career MLB start while batting eighth as the second baseman, Martinez poked a single up the middle to lead off the sixth inning for his first career hit, but the rest the Toronto offense failed to bring him around to score. The 22-year-old also committed his first career error, and defense remains the biggest obstacle between him and a regular spot in the lineup. Martinez seems likely to head back to Triple-A Buffalo once Bo Bichette (calf) gets healthy, but if the Blue Jays become sellers at the trade deadline, a permanent spot could open up in the majors for the top prospect.
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Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Provides only offense Friday
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Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Guardians.
The first baseman took Carlos Carrasco deep in the fourth inning, but it was all the offense the Blue Jays could muster in a 7-1 loss. Guerrero hadn't gone yard since June 6, and while he continues to scald the ball -- he's in the 99th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate -- a 5.9 degree average launch angle is costing him power. On the season, he's batting .281 with a career-low .406 SLG, eight homers and 31 RBI in 75 games.
Blue Jays' Yariel Rodriguez: Chased in second inning
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Rodriguez (0-2) yielded five runs (four earned) on two hits and three walks over 1.1 innings Friday, striking out one batter and taking a loss against the Guardians.
Rodriguez began his outing with a scoreless inning before Cleveland racked up seven runs in the second frame. It was his first appearance since April 29 due to a back injury. His season ERA jumped from 4.11 to 5.94 through 16.2 innings. The 27-year-old righty is lined up to make his next appearance in Boston next week, but his spot in the rotation seems far from secure. Rodriguez has yet to complete more than four innings in a start this season.
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Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Resumes baseball activities
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Bichette (calf) took ground balls, ran the bases and hit in the batting cages Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
He looks to be on track to return from the injured list once eligible Tuesday and should ramp up his workload over the weekend. While Bichette's been sidelined, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been handling most of the shortstop work.
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Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Absent from lineup
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Horwitz is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Cleveland.
After starting five straight games following his promotion, Horwitz has now been on the bench three times in the last seven contests, including twice against right-handers. Orelvis Martinez is getting the call at second base Friday.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Making first start Friday
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Martinez will start at second base and bat eighth in Friday's game versus the Guardians.
It will be the first major-league start for Martinez, who was on the bench for two straight contests following his promotion. The 22-year-old is one of the better power-hitting prospects in baseball, but he does struggle to make contact and isn't regarded as a great defender. Getting him playing time does not appear to be a priority for the Blue Jays during this stint, but he will have a chance to show what he can do Friday.
