Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber both took steps toward making their returns for the Blue Jays.
The Toronto Blue Jays are still knocking on the doors of a playoff spot.
Entering Tuesday, before a game against the Athletics in Sacramento Calif., the Blue Jays entered the game 72-72 and a half-game out of the final wild card spot in the American League. The only team ahead of the Blue Jays for a wild card spot is the team that currently occupies it, the Cleveland Guardians.
Toronto doesn't have a game remaining on its regular season schedule against a team with a winning record and will be in prime position to return to the playoffs after winning the AL pennant last season if it can take care of business against those clubs.
Luckily for the Blue Jays, they look to be getting closer to seeing the return of multiple starting pitchers.
Right-handers Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber have been progressing towards returning, but there's been questions whether or not there is enough time left in the schedule for either to get another start in the regular season.
Yesavage has been on the shelf since Aug. 5 due to right knee inflammation and Bieber was placed on the injured list Aug. 24 (retroactive to Aug. 21) due to right teres major inflammation.
Per a post on "X" from Sportsnet reporter Arden Zwelling, Yesavage threw a 34-pitch bullpen at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday. He's throw against two live hitters Thursday, per the report.
Bieber extended his throws on flat ground to 75 feet Monday.
A subsequent report on "X" from MLB.com reporter Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Bieber would throw off the mound in the next week "in a perfect world."
Yesavage and Bieber are both in their second stints on the injured list this season. Both hurlers began the year on the IL, Yesavage with a right shoulder impingement and Bieber with right elbow inflammation.
Yesavage was first activated off the IL from his first stint April 28 and Bieber was activated from his first stint on the shelf June 23.
Bieber has posted a 4.37 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched across 11 starts.
Yesavage has a 3.65 ERA this year and has fanned 91 batters in 93.2 innings pitched across 18 starts.
