Blue Jays Receive Troubling News on Jose Berrios
The Toronto Blue Jays just got the kind of spring training news no contender wants this close to Opening Day.
What started as a World Baseball Classic insurance issue has turned into a much more concerning situation for Jose Berrios, who was scratched from his scheduled start and will now travel to see noted elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday.
The early reports say there is no structural damage on the MRI, but Toronto is still shutting Berrios down from throwing for now.
Jose Berrios elbow news puts Blue Jays on alert
Berrios and manager John Schneider both indicated the veteran right-hander has felt fine, yet the imaging showed a new type of inflammation in his right elbow, which is never a great sign.
That development also wiped out Berrios’ hopes of joining Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.
José Berrios (elbow inflammation) will visit Dr. Meister on Tuesday, John Schneider says.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 13, 2026
Meister has viewed the MRI. This will be for an in-person evaluation. #BlueJays
Since 2018, Berrios has led the majors in both games started and innings pitched, and he has long been viewed as one of baseball’s most dependable rotation pieces.
For a pitcher who has built his reputation on durability, his recent history is pretty concerning.
Blue Jays rotation depth suddenly feels far more important
Berrios is coming off a 2025 season in which he logged a 4.17 ERA over 166 innings, but that year also ended with his first career IL stint because of elbow inflammation.
Now, less than six months later, Toronto is again dealing with elbow-related uncertainty surrounding the 31-year-old.
On paper, the Blue Jays have depth with names like Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, Cody Ponce, Trey Yesavage, Eric Lauer and eventually Shane Bieber, but this is exactly why depth is never a bad thing to have.
Bieber is already behind schedule, and if Berrios is not ready for the front end of the season, Toronto’s crowded rotation picture doesn't look so crowded anymore.
With Trey Yesavage being limited early on and Jose Berrios basically cooked with an elbow issue, this is the Blue Jays rotation:
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) March 12, 2026
Dylan Cease
Kevin Gausman
Cody Ponce
Max Scherzer
Trey Yesavage+Eric Lauer
Ponce is going to be huge for this team.
For now, nobody is saying this is a major injury, but when a veteran starter is shut down from throwing and sent for an in-person evaluation with Keith Meister this close to March 27, it's fair to call it troubling.
Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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