One of the most crucial players on the Toronto Blue Jays seems to be getting closer and closer to returning to the major league roster.

The Blue Jays are just starting to get healthier on the starting pitching side of things, with starting pitcher Dylan Cease returning in a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

In addition to Cease's return, starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber are also nearing their respective returns to the rotation.

Scherzer will start for Toronto's game against Philadelphia on Wednesday, per an article from MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan.

The starters' typical catcher, 2025 All-Star Alejandro Kirk, is another player who has been out for an extended period of time.

Kirk was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb fracture April 4. He was transferred from the 10-day IL to the 60-day injured list May 27 with the same injury.

Before Kirk landed on the IL, he slashed .150/.227/.350 with a .577 OPS in five games in the majors and hit a double and a homer with two RBIs.

The 27-year-old backstop began a rehab assignment with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays on June 3.

In three games with Toronto's Single-A affiliate, Kirk went 2-for-9, including a solo home run and had an RBI. He also scored two runs and drew two walks.

Kirk progressed on his rehab assignment and was reassigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday. In a 7-2 win against the Syracuse Mets, Kirk went 0-for-2 and drew a walk. Kirk was the designated hitter in the Bisons' win. He's DH'd in three-of-four games played on his rehab assignment.

Kirk was one of the Blue Jays' most important players during last season and the playoffs, which saw Toronto claim first place in the American League East and win its first American League pennant since 1993.

During the regular season, Kirk slashed .282/.348/.421 with a .769 OPS in 130 games and hit 18 doubles and 15 home runs with 76 RBIs.

In the postseason, the two-time All-Star finished with a slash line of .254/.349/.493 with an .842 OPS in 18 games and hit two doubles and five homers with 13 RBIs.

Despite Kirk's injury, as well as the various ailments of the rotation and other key players (such as outfielder Addison Barger), the Blue Jays are still in the thick of the playoff race in the AL.

Following its win against the Phillies on Tuesday, Toronto is third in the division with a 33-35 record and eight games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place. The Blue Jays are tied with the Texas Rangers for the final AL wild card spot.

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