Garcia earned the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Rays, striking out one batter without allowing a hit or walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
After Jeff Hoffman got roughed up for five runs in Tuesday's 11-9 loss, Garcia was brought in for the ninth inning Wednesday to protect the Blue Jays' two-run lead. Garcia started out strongly by striking out Jose Caballero and needed just seven pitches (six strikes) to capture his third save of the season. Garcia's 3.71 ERA through 17 innings is inflated by the seven runs he gave up across two outings May 3 and 6; he's otherwise yielded no earned runs in his other 16 appearances.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Shaky control in fifth hold
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Garcia gave up a hit and walked two in a scoreless eighth inning Friday to record his fifth hold of the season in a win over the Mariners. He struck out two.
The veteran righty has handled a heavy, high-leverage workload to begin the season, making 17 appearances in the Blue Jays' first 38 games, and it may be wearing him down. Garcia loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth on a single, a wild pitch and two free passes before escaping the jam, very nearly suffering his third straight collapse after he got tagged for seven runs across his prior two appearances. He's issued five walks in those three games covering just two innings, and Garcia now carries a 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB through 16 innings on the year.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Dominant start continues
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Garcia secured the save after throwing a clean ninth inning in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Red Sox. He struck out two.
Closer Jeff Hoffman tossed two innings in Wednesday's win over Boston, so it was Garcia who got the call to preserve the victory. Nine of the right-hander's 12 pitches landed for strikes, making it a fairly easy second save of the year Thursday. Garcia extended his scoreless streak to 14 innings to go with an 18:4 K:BB to open the season, and he'll remain a candidate for the occasional save opportunity in the event that Hoffman is unavailable.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Notches first save of 2025
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Garcia struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Monday to record his first save of the season in a win over the Nationals.
Jeff Hoffman had pitched Saturday and Sunday, so Garcia got the call to protect a three-run lead Monday. The 34-year-old righty has been busy himself to begin the year, appearing in three of the Jays' first five games and posting a 4:0 K:BB over three scoreless innings. Garcia is locked into a high-leverage role and should see a handful of save opportunities the rest of the season when Hoffman is unavailable.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Looks ready for Opening Day
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Garcia gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief during Monday's split-squad game against the Yankees.
The veteran right-hander has been almost untouchable this spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and 9:0 K:BB through six Grapefruit League innings. Garcia has recorded double-digit holds in three straight seasons, and he seems likely to make it four straight as he gets ready to be the Blue Jays' top setup man ahead of new closer Jeff Hoffman.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Back north of the border
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Garcia (elbow) signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Garcia, who was traded from the Blue Jays to the Mariners shortly before the trade deadline, ended the year on the shelf with elbow inflammation. The 34-year-old righty had a 3.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 49:12 K:BB and five saves in 39 innings last year before his elbow started barking. If he's healthy, Garcia could work as Chad Green's setup man or even challenge for a share of ninth-inning duties.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Out for season
Rotowire
The Mariners transferred Garcia (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Garcia was shut down from throwing Tuesday after experiencing a setback during a bullpen session, and his move to the 60-day IL will officially prevent him from pitching again this season. He'll finish the 2024 campaign with a 3.46 ERA and 0.90 WHIP alongside a 49:12 K:BB across 39 innings. Seby Zavala was selected from Triple-A Tacoma to fill the opening on Seattle's 40-man roster.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Gets 13th hold Thursday
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Garcia recorded his 13th hold of the season in a loss to the Tigers on Thursday, allowing an earned run on a walk over two-thirds of an inning.
Garcia issued an inning-opening walk to Austin Meadows in the eighth inning before retiring the next two batters, but Andres Munoz then surrendered a two-run home run to Javier Baez that allowed Meadows to cross the plate. Garcia has been charged with a combined three earned runs over the last two days and five overall in his last five appearances, a stark contrast to the four straight scoreless one-inning outings with which he opened his Mariners tenure.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Strong start in Seattle
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Garcia recorded his 12th hold in a win over the White Sox on Sunday, firing a perfect eighth inning.
Garcia was just acquired via trade with the Blue Jays on Friday, and he's been put right to work with the Mariners. Sunday's stellar seven-pitch outing was preceded by Garcia's Saturday debut, when he earned his 11th hold with a pair of strikeouts over one clear inning. Garcia figures to see plenty of seventh- and eighth-inning work now that Ryne Stanek has been traded to the Mets, and he should also be in line for an occasional save opportunity on days Andres Munoz is unavailable.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Headed to Seattle
Rotowire
The Mariners acquired Garcia from the Blue Jays on Friday in exchange for outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher Jacob Sharp, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Garcia has been one of the better relievers in baseball this season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 42:8 K:BB K:BB over 30 innings while recording five saves. He will be part of the late-inning picture in Seattle but will likely be behind Andres Munoz in the pecking order for saves.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Garcia (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Garcia has been sidelined since mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis and dealt with some neck stiffness during a brief rehab assignment. He's feeling good now, however, and should immediately be thrown back into the late-inning mix for the Blue Jays, perhaps even as the team's closer. Garcia boasts a 2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 37:7 K:BB over 28 innings this season.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Could be activated Sunday
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Garcia (elbow) will join the Blue Jays ahead of Sunday's game in Arizona and could be activated from the 15-day injured list for the series finale with the Diamondbacks, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia had his second rehab appearance pushed back twice due to neck stiffness, but he was able to pitch two-thirds of an inning Friday with Triple-A Buffalo. The 33-year-old has been shelved since June 17 due to right elbow ulnar neuritis. With Jordan Romano (elbow) likely out until September, Garcia could enter the second half of the season as the Blue Jays' closer.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: MiLB outing pushed back again
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Garcia (elbow) didn't make a rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Buffalo as planned due to neck stiffness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia's rehab appearance has now been pushed back twice due to the neck issue that popped up Tuesday. He threw a side session instead to make up for not getting into a game and is now slated to pitch for Buffalo on Thursday, barring any further setbacks.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Rehab appearance delayed
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Garcia (elbow) didn't pitch in a rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo as scheduled Tuesday due to neck stiffness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia's injury isn't considered to be serious, but the Bisons opted to hold him out of the game as a precaution. The 33-year-old reliever is now slated to appear in Wednesday's game, assuming he feels better by then. It's unclear how many additional rehab appearances he will need to make past Wednesday, though a return to Toronto before the All-Star break has not yet been ruled out.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Making rehab appearance Saturday
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Garcia (elbow) will pitch for Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Garcia isn't expected to require more than two rehab appearances, with Saturday's outing his first with Buffalo. With Jordan Romano (elbow) out for the foreseeable future, Garcia could step into the Blue Jays' closing role once activated from the IL.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Requires rehab stint
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Garcia (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday and will need at least one minor-league rehab appearance before being activated, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
If all goes well, Garcia would be sent out for a rehab assignment following Wednesday's bullpen session. While it's unclear exactly how many appearances he'll need in the minors, manager John Schneider indicated Garcia would need more than one outing before rejoining the active roster. Once he's healthy, Garcia could take over closing duties considering Jordan Romano (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Throws off mound
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Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The reliever will throw another bullpen session Wednesday before the next steps in his rehab program are determined. Garcia has missed just two weeks with a nerve issue in his right elbow, so it's possible he'll skip a rehab assignment and return from the 15-day injured list whenever the Blue Jays feel that he's ready. With Jordan Romano (elbow) out indefinitely, Garcia should be back in the mix for saves once he returns, perhaps even as the club's top option. Chad Green has been serving as Toronto's closer since Garcia landed on the IL but hasn't received any save chances during that stretch.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Long-tossing from 120 feet
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Garcia (elbow) has progressed to long-tossing from 120 feet, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Working his way back from right elbow ulnar neuritis, Garcia would seem close to throwing off a mound if he can continue to progress. He was closing for the Blue Jays before getting hurt a week ago and could eventually get that job back, although Jordan Romano (elbow) and Chad Green will be factors.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Lands on IL with elbow injury
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The Blue Jays placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.
Garcia was forced out of his save chance in Sunday's 7-6 win over Cleveland after experiencing right elbow soreness. The MRI after Sunday's game showed no structural damage to Garcia's right elbow, but it did reveal ulnar nerve symptoms, per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. While there was optimism that Garcia would be day-to-day with the injury, he will now be on the shelf until at least the beginning of July. With Jordan Romano (elbow) still on the IL, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Chad Green will operate as the interim closer for Toronto, according to Mae.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Day-to-day, no structural damage
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Garcia is considered day-to-day after an MRI on his right elbow revealed no structural damage but showed "ulnar nerve symptoms," Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
According to Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star, the Blue Jays are describing the right elbow soreness that forced Garcia out of a save chance in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Guardians is being viewed as a "stinger." The club isn't too concerned about the injury, though Wilner notes that if Garcia hasn't made a full recovery by Friday, the Blue Jays won't hesitate to place him on the injured list. Schneider intimated that the Blue Jays will likely stay away from Garcia for at least Monday's game versus the Red Sox, with the skipper naming Chad Green as the team's interim closer for however long Garcia is unavailable. Before leaving early Sunday, Garcia had converted three consecutive save chances to solidify himself as the Blue Jays' preferred ninth-inning man while two-time All-Star closer Jordan Romano (elbow) remains on the IL.
