Addison Barger is set to be activated off the injured list weekend.
The Toronto Blue Jays offense has struggled this week, scoring just four runs in three games en route to a three-game sweep at the hands of the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays.
But it isn't just this week.
The Blue Jays, who are supposed to possess one of the best offenses in the league, are 22nd in home runs entering play on Thursday. Incredibly disciplined in their run to the World Series in 2025, they are just 28th in walks. They are 29th in stolen bases.
The one thing they have going for them right now? They have the fewest strikeouts in baseball, so there's hope that balls in play will start to find more holes, but until then, it's been a frustrating first 37 games for the Jays (16-21).
The injuries to Anthony Santander, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger are obviously a big deal, as is the loss of Bo Bichette, but regardless, the Jays need people to step up.
Enter Barger, who is likely to be activated from the injured list on Friday as the team returns home to play the Los Angeles Angels.
A breakout star from last season's playoff run, Barger had 21 homers in 2025 and was looking to take the next step this year and be more consistent. His playing time has been more consistent when healthy, but his results have not matched yet. He's just 1-for-19 at the beginning of his campaign. He's been on the injured list since the first road trip with joint ankle issues.
He's gone 2-for-9 through two rehab games, with both hits being home runs.
The Blue Jays will hope that his activation leads to a general re-starting of his season, as they could really use the productivity he showed in 2025.
Barger was in the 86th percentile of exit velocity, the 91st percentile of hard-hit rate and the 93rd percentile of bat speed. He has the ability, but he just needs to put it back together again now.
Also in Blue Jays news
--With Max Scherzer and Jose Berrios still ailing, and Shane Bieber only slow ramping back up in his return from forearm fatigue, it appears that veteran Patrick Corbin is set to be in the starting rotation for the foreseeable future. He took the loss on Wednesday, but allowed just two earned runs on five hits.
Scherzer is going to see more doctors to talk about his forearm discomfort and Berrios had an MRI on Tuesday about his right elbow.
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