Blue Jays Near Return of Key Pitcher Manoah Amid Injury Setbacks

The Toronto Blue Jays are managing several roster and player challenges as they prepare for the postseason. Pitcher Alek Manoah is progressing through his recovery from elbow surgery, motivated by a personal tradition of marking key rehab milestones on baseballs, and is seen as being in a good place by the team's manager. Meanwhile, veteran outfielder Anthony Santander is working on a comeback from a shoulder injury after a slow start to the season, with the team awaiting his readiness through minor league rehab before making roster decisions. The Blue Jays also bolstered their farm system by signing former MLB star Eloy Jimenez to a minor-league contract, aiming for organizational depth rather than immediate major league impact given his recent injury history and performance decline. On the broader MLB front, other teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers are also dealing with pitching uncertainties, with the Phillies evaluating prospect Andrew Painter's readiness for a major league debut and the Brewers managing bullpen stability with the return of Rob Zastryzny amid injuries. These developments highlight the ongoing adjustments and strategic moves teams are making as the MLB season progresses toward its final stretch.