The Toronto Blue Jays are battling hard for a spot in the American League Wild Card race, sitting just 1.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for that third and final spot. And man, if they make it, it’s all thanks to a guy who came out of absolutely nowhere to become one of the game’s best closers. This squad needs to play clean baseball the rest of the way, no blown saves, and they’ve got just the guy for the job.
This Dude Had Zero Saves Before This Year, Seriously?!
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller just called Louis Varland one of the top breakout performers in MLB this year, and you gotta agree. This is wild: Miller even noted that before this season, Varland had never, not once, saved a game in the majors or the minors! He only even got the closer gig because Jeff Hoffman was, well, ‘couldn’t save anything’ through the first three weeks. Talk about stepping up! Miller threw Varland’s name right there with Bryan Baker and Jacob Latz as breakout closers in the AL.
A 1.12 ERA and a First-Time All-Star: That’s Nasty
And ‘stepping up’ is an understatement. Varland has been ‘nearly perfect,’ converting an insane 31 of 32 save opportunities. His ERA? A minuscule 1.12! He struck out 31.5% of the batters he’s faced and is only giving up 6.4 hits per nine innings. He even punched his ticket as a first-time All-Star at the Midsummer Classic this year. That’s serious heat. If the Blue Jays actually make it to the postseason, you bet your bottom dollar no opposing club wants to see this guy trot out to the mound in the ninth inning or later. And the best part for Toronto fans? This dude isn’t even sniffing free agency until after the 2030 season. What a deal!
The Blue Jays are pushing hard, and with Varland locking things down like this, they have a real shot at grabbing that Wild Card spot. Every single game matters now, and having a closer you can trust, especially one who came out of nowhere, is everything. Can they keep it clean and ride this breakout to October? We’re all watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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