Pitching injuries have ruined Toronto’s 2026 season. Now, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins is ready to act. The team started the year with many hurt pitchers, and the list just keeps growing. Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios are still on the IL, and it is affecting their place in the standings. Their 39-39 record is better than their bad start in April, but they do not have enough healthy pitchers. The Blue Jays’ boss Ross Atkins acknowledged this reality as he revealed the team’s trade deadline plan.

“Speaking to the media at Rogers Centre, Ross Atkins says starting pitching is likely atop the Blue Jays’ wish list at the trade deadline. Atkins says he likes Jays’ current group but has interest in more because you can never have enough starters,” MLB insider Ben Nicholson-Smith shared via X.

The Blue Jays are currently ranked 23rd in terms of scoring runs (320) and 8th in terms of average (.250). But their pitching is 15th with a 4.10 ERA. This sounds shocking for a team built around great pitchers, but it shows just how bad their injuries are.

Scherzer is on a 15-day IL with back spasms. He threw a bullpen session and is feeling better, but his exact activation date is still not known. Then, Yimi García is on a 60-day IL. He had to stop his minor league practice games because his elbow hurts again. He is reportedly meeting with team doctors to map out next steps.

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José Berríos underwent Tommy John surgery on May 20, effectively ending his 2026 season. Cody Ponce is suffering from a right ACL sprain. He underwent surgery and will miss the year.

With these big names out, the healthy pitchers have to work extra hard. Among those, the Jays’ 2025 breakout star, Trey Yesavage, is struggling right now. He started the year from the IL and returned with a 5 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox. However, that momentum hasn’t carried on. Since May 25, he has allowed 17 ERs from 22.1 innings till June 13.

It has left the Jays with Dylan Cease as the only other performing starter with a 2.75 ERA so far.

The Blue Jays are currently 7.5 games behind the AL East lead and 1 game up for a Wild Card spot. Teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners are fighting them for that spot. Atkins must add a reliable starting pitcher if he wants to turn them back into a World Series team.

The Blue Jays could get spoiled by choices

Tarik Skubal is the biggest name rumored to be available by the deadline. The Tigers’ continued regression is making it more realistic.

“Now that it’s becoming inevitable that the free-falling Detroit Tigers may have no choice but to trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the deadline, rival executives believe the bidding will come down to four finalists who not only can afford the remainder of his $32 million contract, but will also be willing to give up prized prospects. The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Diego Padres,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale predicted.

The Blue Jays, they need immediate impact, and no one could take this opportunity better than Skubal. However, the Tigers are seeking top prospects from the potential suitors. Looking at recent history, Toronto has a clear pattern of making trades when it comes to pitching at the deadline. When they are losing, they sell, just like in 2024 when they traded away pitchers Yusei Kikuchi and Yimi García to gather prospects.

They also traded top prospects for Berríos in 2021, and they traded for Cease last winter. We will see if Atkins is willing to give up top minor league players like JoJo Parker and Arjun Nimmala to beat the Dodgers and Yankees.

The New York Mets, similar to the Tigers’ situation, may wish to give up Freddy Peralta in order to get a few new names. While his 4.83 ERA this year seems a dealbreaker, Peralta is better than this. He is a two-time All-Star who won 17 games just last year. Because there are so few good pitchers available, the Blue Jays might take a chance on Peralta to save their season.