Baseball Central @ Noon

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph to chat about Daulton Varsho's mechanical changes at the plate, pitching against Yordan Alvarez, if Braydon Fisher is the front-runner to takeover Louis Varland's spot in high leverage, and his expectations for Jose Berrios in his next start. Then, we hear from manager John Schneider ahead of their series against the Astros. Afterwards, Houston Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum stops by to discuss how Jeremy Peña has been able to elevate his offence, Jake Meyers importance in the outfield, the protection around Alvarez in the order, and Luis Garcia's pitching since coming off of Tommy John.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' roster move sending Bo Bichette to the 10-day IL and calling up Joey Loperfido, expectations for the team moving forward without Bo for the final stretch of September, and the upcoming series opener against the Houston Astros. Then, host of Foul Territory and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz stops by to chat about stealing signs across the league and in particular during the New York Yankees-Blue Jays series finale, if the Jays can win the division without Bo in the lineup, Shane Bieber's outing coming off Tommy John, and if the Astros' consistent run into the post-season is nearing it's end.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

New York Yankees reporter Pete Caldera joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the chances for the team to make up some ground for the top of the AL East before the end of the regular season, how Aaron Boone deploys Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton in the right field, narrowing down their circle of trust in the bullpen, Cody Bellinger's season, and Anthony Volpe's future at shortstop. Then, host of Nothing Personal with David Samson stops by to discuss the Yankees embracing the sign stealing, why fans shouldn't be worried about the Blue Jays dropping two out of three in New York, if the Houston Astros have 'championship DNA', Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers building towards that, having experienced managers towards October and if there's cap circumvention across major league sports.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts from the Blue Jays' weekend series at Yankees Stadium, Max Scherzer's pitch tipping, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger picking up on it, how it's part of the game of baseball and how the Jays handled the situation. Then, Blair and Barker head to Back Leg Line to hear listener's calls on what they've learned from the series loss to the New York Yankees.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

The Athletic's Jayson Starks joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about why it's a bigger series for the New York Yankees against the Blue Jays, Aaron Judge's return to the outfield, the BBWAA adding Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 2026 for both the NL and AL, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in the National League after taking two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, if it takes a superstar to win a World Series, concerns with L.A. Dodgers' offence, and the Baltimore Orioles honouring Cal Ripken Jr. for his Ironman streak 30 years later. Then, Yankees' radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims stops by to discuss  the implications between the Jays and Bronx Bombers, what has gone wrong with their closer Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger's impact on the lineup.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about facing the New York Yankees as they close the gap to his team in the AL East, his expectations for his pitchers to attack the Bronx Bombers, how he'll utilize Jose Berrios nearing the end of the year, giving Max Scherzer an extra days rest, Brendon Little's pitches, Jeff Hoffman's workload, Addison Barger's recent stretch of at-bats, the status of Anthony Santander, calling up Braydon Fisher and Trey Yesavage's path to the big leagues. Then, Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Scherzer and Chris Bassitt flipping their starts in New York, if Max's back issues will be a bigger problem, Jose Berrios' slated to pitch against the Houston Astros and Taylor Trammell's bat being confiscated.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi (2:17) jumps on with Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about a messy 8th inning during the New York Yankees and Houston Astros game, if the Blue Jays pitchers can attack against the Yankees' hitters, Aaron Judge's future in the outfield, Bo Bichette's market value, and the chaotic race within the American League for a playoff spot. Then, MLB Hall of Famer and MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz stops by (28:01) to discuss how difficult it is to be a closer vs. a starter nearing the postseason, playing on the road at Yankees Stadium, pitching coming out of Tommy John surgery, the playoff experience Max Scherzer brings to the pitching staff, and who is the best pitcher in baseball in 2025. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-9 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds to close out the series. They debate who is the Jays' MVP this season between George Springer and Bo Bichette, break down Shane Bieber's mid-game adjustments, and share their confidence levels in the bullpen heading into their pivotal series against the Yankees. Then, they get into where Anthony Santander would slot in if he gets healthy. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (28:00) stops by to discuss the stakes of the Jays/Yanks weekend series, Springer's miraculous resurgence, Bichette's open-market value, and he ranks his top three teams in each league. Finally, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (0:20) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the pitching incident between Houston Astros' starter Framber Valdez and his catcher César Salazar, what he expects from Shane Bieber in his third start since coming off the IL, how he views the Jays handling Jose Berrios' struggles against the Cincinnati Reds, Trey Yesavage's future in Buffalo, who will become Toronto's second hitter in the lineup in October, how Bo Bichette has controlled his 'aggressiveness' at the plate and Alejandro Kirk's season catching. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:44) stops by to give an early look at the Jays' weekend clash with AL East rivals New York Yankees, how the Yankees have climbed back into the standings behind Toronto, Boston Red Sox's Roman Anthony rookie year coming to a halt, why Bieber might not be far from becoming the Jays' number one pitcher and his view on Framber Valdez's seemingly intentionally pitching his catcher. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the bullpen limiting the damage, Louis Varland figuring it out, and José Berríos's waning confidence on the mound. Then, they get into how George Springer's season impacts his legacy, Framber Valdez seemingly intentionally crossing up his catcher, and their expectations for Shane Bieber in his third start. Later, Adam Ottavino (28:35), former pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, stops by to give his take on the Valdez/Salazar incident, the Jays' pitching potential, what it takes to get back to form after Tommy John surgery, and Canadian pitcher Jonah Tong impressing early after his Mets call-up.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Blue Jays' TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:30) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his expectations for Jose Berrios' start after coming off an extended rest, Shane Bieber's first two starts with the Jays, if Brendon Little can adjust to his pitches this late into the year, how he would catch Jeff Hoffman, why Addison Barger moving down in the lineup could benefit him, and Bo Bichette's consistent at-bats. Then, former MLB executive and host of "Roster to Rings" podcast Thad Levine joins the guys (28:00) to discuss Louis Varland's slow acclimation into the Blue Jays' system, if his can become a starter again, navigating call-ups during September for a playoff bound team, having the tough conversation and decision to send a veteran player to waivers, and how his role changed nearing the end of the regular season.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds and another bullpen breakdown in the ninth. They discuss Ryan Borucki's call-up, whether Brendon Little's second-half struggles are correctable, and Bo Bichette's consistency at the plate. Then, they review Max Scherzer's interview on Foul Territory where he opened up on his back injury and Vladdy's untapped potential. Later, Reds broadcaster and former MLB reliever Jeff Brantley (29:11) shares his thoughts on the season in Cincinnati, Terry Francona's management style, the difficulty of balancing being competitive vs. fostering player development, and the pressure on the closer during a playoff push.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio with Blue Jays radio analyst and former pitcher Chris Leroux to debate how John Schneider should reconsider utilizing Brendon Little and the rest of the relievers, if the roster is capable of being the best team in the Majors, even the AL East, Eric Lauer's second stint back to the bullpen, and Bo Bichette's contact ability this season. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by to discuss the Blue Jays' recent additions to the team with rosters expanding for the month, if they can still call-up Trey Yesavage to the big leagues, why he wouldn't be too concerned with Jeff Hoffman despite some hiccups over the recent stretch, and if John Schneider will consider switching up the second spot in the batting order.   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Milwaukee Brewers TV play-by-play voice Brian Anderson (1:39) to discuss the team's offensive style of play, what's behind Christian Yelich's resurgence, why Abner Uribe could fill their closer's shoes with Trevor Megill out, and who would be the team's Game 1 starter in October. Then, Jeff and Kevin chat about Markham, ON's Jonah Tong making his big league debut for the New York Mets, before diving back into the Blue Jays' lineup without Ernie Clement, how the batting order stacks up compared to previous years, the continuation of the 6-man rotation, and how the rest of the schedule shapes up for Toronto.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (7:04) ahead of the team's weekend series against the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The skipper shares team injury updates, how Jeff Hoffman and Addison Barger have handled up-and-down months, Trey Yesavage's pathway to a postseason opportunity, Davis Schneider's evolution as a big leaguer, and much more. Later, NESN analyst and former World Series champion Jonathan Papelbon (30:32) swings by to discuss Walker Buehler's release from the Red Sox today, how much credit Alex Cora gets for Boston's mid-season turnaround, and the pressure on a closer at this time of the season.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (3:28) to weigh in on the Blue Jays' series against the Minnesota Twins, the bullpen's struggles keeping runners on base, who slots into the Jays' two-hole in an ideal order, whether Eric Lauer's rocky start is a red flag for the rotation's extended rest, and which relievers are in the 'circle of trust.' Later, former Blue Jays manager and two-time World Series champion Cito Gaston (31:23) joins the show to reflect on his upcoming induction into the Negro League Baseball Museum's Hall of Game, his relationship with other inductees Dusty Baker, Jerry Manuel, and Willie Randolph, and his thoughts on the 2025 Blue Jays as they make the final push to the playoffs.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly recap the Blue Jays late game comeback against the Minnesota Twins and Jeff Hoffman's redemption in the 9th inning before bringing on former pitcher and MLB Network Analyst Dan Plesac (5:55) to chat about what he saw from Shane Bieber's first outing against the Miami Marlins since coming off Tommy John, how the Jays' top three pitchers stack up against other teams' top starters, what are clear red flags coming from your closers as we near October, his assessment of Jeff Hoffman, and how the Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the AL. Then, The Athletic's Twins reporter Dan Hayes stops by (31:19) to discuss the team's hitting differences since letting go of the current Jays hitting coach David Popkins, how David found success with Toronto's lineup, and his ability to work with hitters. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:59) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Milwaukee Brewers losing closer Trevor Megill to a flexor strain, if the Blue Jays' bullpen is good enough to win a World Series, Cal Raleigh's case for American League MVP, and who will come out of the AL West. Then, host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (25:14) stops by to discuss Jeff Hoffman's recent blown save, why he's still picking the Blue Jays over the Boston Red Sox, who's the best team in performing on the road, if he's surprised with the Texas Rangers added to the group of one-and-done teams, and how he views pitchers coming off Tommy John and returning to the mound. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins and discuss Jeff Hoffman's ninth-inning blowup. They get into the team's bullpen-wide slump, George Springer's two-homer game and Chris Bassitt's start. Later, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. Should the Jays have added a bona fide closer at the deadline? Can Springer sustain his scorching August form? Will Eric Lauer make a permanent move to the bullpen? And more.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly (0:51) to chat about the success throughout their lineup this season, their home versus road performances, whether he sees their hitting approach translating well into the postseason, Addison Barger's evolution in his bat skills, Vlad Jr.'s 2025, and how John Schneider has navigated managing. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (28:36) to discuss the expectations on when Anthony Santander could return to the main roster, the team's success rate at Rogers Centre, Dan's walkthrough with the Jays' Trajekt tech hitting machine, how Schneider maps out his bullpen pitchers up until calling upon his closer, and Andrés Giménez's presence in the infield. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to kick off a three-game series. They get into Andrés Giménez's adjustment at the plate before reflecting on the team's consistency since the All-Star break. Then, ahead of his start tonight, they debate whether Chris Bassitt's home/road split discrepancy is overblown. Later, retired MLB outfielder and Twins TV analyst Denard Span (23:09) discusses the Twins' future outlook after their fire-sale at the deadline, what the Jays' bats can expect from tonight's starter Bailey Ober, the next step in Royce Lewis' development, and former Twin Louis Varland's potential as a starter in Toronto.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly revisit Shane Bieber's debut with the Blue Jays and how the rotation could shape up with the former Cy Young Award winner in the fold, before hearing John Schneider's media availability ahead of their series against the Minnesota Twins, including an update on Yimi Garcia's injury. Then, former pitcher and host on MLB Network Radio Jensen Lewis (28:00) stops by to discuss Bieber's return to the mound, how difficult is it to pitch to a new catcher, Max Scherzer maintaining his velocity at the age of 41, who would pitch Game 1 of the postseason between Shane and Max, how he would evaluate relievers near the end of a regular season, and the Boston Red Sox's post trade deadline turnaround. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week with a look back on the Blue Jays' series against the Miami Marlins. They check in on the standings before digging into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s return to the lineup, Shane Bieber's debut, shaky play from the bullpen, and whether it's time for the club to call up top prospect Trey Yesavage. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (29:03) weighs in on the team's bullpen-wide struggles, the plan for the rotation down the stretch, what's behind Addison Barger's recent power outage at the plate, and who bats second in a must-win game. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Bob Nightengale (3:01) of USA Today to share his expectations for Shane Bieber's return to the mound and Blue Jays debut, if the Jays are capable of a deep run and win the AL East, Max Scherzer pitching like he was 10 years ago, the New York Mets' drastic turnaround season, whether Kyle Tucker's market will dictate Bo Bichette's pending free agency, and the prospect of the MLB looking into expansion with a shorten season. Then, Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston stops by (34:40) to chat about Walker Buehler's move to the bullpen, Red Sox calling up Jhostynxon Garcia, how the Boston club stacks up against the New York Yankees, and the confidence coming from Roman Anthony in his rookie year.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The skipper shares an update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring injury, his expectations for Shane Bieber in his Blue Jays debut tonight, internal competition in the rotation, and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin set the stage for Bieber's first Major League start in 507 days and what would be considered a successful outing for the returning righty. Finally, they weigh in on Samuel Basallo signing a long-term contract with the Orioles and what it means for Adley Rutschman.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Blue Jays' pitcher Adam Cimber (1:15) to chat about his old teammate Shane Bieber and what he was like during their days with the Cleveland Guardians, expectations for Shane returning to the mound coming off an injury, the difficulties as a pitcher of putting yourself aside and focus on the team first, and the feeling in the clubhouse of being hunted in the standings than being the hunter. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back Leg Line to hear some listeners' voicemail messages! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day edition with a look at the AL East landscape as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox get set to square off in a four-game series. Then, they debate the importance of the Blue Jays' upcoming weekend series against the Marlins. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins the show (26:36) to discuss the Jays' recent scoring slump, how the starters are adjusting to the changed rotation, his expectations for Shane Bieber, and Brendon Little's control issues.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a deeper dive into the Blue Jays' decision to option Braydon Fisher to Buffalo, bumping Eric Lauer to the bullpen ahead of Shane Bieber's debut, and the competition around the rotation for postseason starts. ESPN's Jeff Passan jumps on (27:45) to discuss if Max Scherzer's play as of late, how the Jays can translate their hitting approach in the playoffs, how he views the New York Yankees roster in the second half, why the Baltimore Orioles' down year is just a blip, and how soon could the MLB look into expansion. Finally, MLB Network's and World Series Champion Ryan Dempster joins the guys (56:41) to chat about Lauer's move to the pen, his experience from pitching as a starter to being asked to close, how the Jays stack up against their rivals ahead of October, and how to be a great teammate supporting the final stretch.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (2:32) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he's navigated the 2025 season with his pitchers' injuries and trade deadline acquisitions, expectations for Shane Bieber when he makes his Blue Jays debut, what he's learned about Max Scherzer, how Jose Berrios can find his velocity again, Brendon Little's walk rate, Jeff Hoffman's adjustment to the closer role, and his assessments of Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark stops by (28:38) to discuss the sustainability of the Blue Jays' approach to hitting, the team's high-calibre pitching staff, Scherzer's longevity, and potential MLB expansion. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' eventful series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 5-2 loss at PNC Park. They discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s exit, the Jays' sloppy fielding, Tommy Pham's tiff with Tyler Heineman and his later social-media outburst. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (31:18) shares his thoughts on Heineman and Pham's dust-up from a catcher's POV, Kevin Gausman's outing, and Addison Barger's growth as a hitter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman (0:45) to chat about the news of Shane Bieber slated to make his Jays' debut and a potential six-man rotation. Then, she gets into Max Scherzer's velocity, who would be the Jays' second-best bullpen arm after Jeff Hoffman, what stands out from Ernie Clement's game, whether the Blue Jays sustain their contact-first approach into the playoffs, and how John Schneider has navigated the team's 2025 campaign. Later, Jeff and Kevin share who they don't want the Blue Jays to face in the playoffs before bringing on MLB Network's Sean Casey (32:14) to discuss how to attack Paul Skenes, his assessment of Bo Bichette, and Jose Berrios' struggles. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Kevin Barker is back with Jeff Blair, and they open the Monday show with a look back on what he missed last week. They dig into the Jays' weekend series against the Rangers, George Springer's return to the lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hot stretch, how José Berríos fits into the starting rotation when Shane Bieber is activated, and what's still left to figure out in the bullpen. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Pirates, what the order can expect from Paul Skenes on the mound, and they listen in to John Schneider's pre-game availability.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair is joined by Texas Rangers TV and radio broadcaster Jared Sandler (1:49) to chat about the team's struggles to break out over .500, the offence stalling, Bret Boone's hitting philosophy, if Chris Young did enough at the trade deadline, how Bruce Bochy is navigating the season, and Jacob DeGrom's 2025 pitching report. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (22:32) to discuss if there's a clear indication at why Chris Bassitt finds a lot of success pitching at Rogers Centre, how he would roll out the pitching rotation with Shane Bieber potentially coming up and into the post-season, Max Scherzer's outing against the Chicago Cubs, and who's the odd man out when George Springer returns to the main roster. Finally, Kevin Barker makes a short return to the show! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair looks ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Texas Rangers and reflects on what's changed since the clubs last met. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo joins the show (6:05) to discuss the site's updated farm system rankings, how the Jays improved from 27 to 20, what they have in Yohendrick Pinango, and Trey Yesavage's ceiling. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:03) to discuss George Springer's timeline to return, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s post-All-Star heater, Max Scherzer's growing confidence, José Berríos's recent struggles, and how he manages the dog days of August.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:43) discuss the Milwaukee Brewers continuing to lead the way in the NL Central, whether the New York Yankees will be out of the postseason mix, why the Seattle Mariners could be the scariest team towards September, and how the Blue Jays currently stack against the American League teams. Then, Casey Candaele (30:30), manager for the Buffalo Bisons shares an update on Alek Manoah's recent rehab start with the team, what he looks for in his players during their process of getting back to the Majors, how much of a factor velocity is for their pitchers, differences in time spent on the mound between newer and older pitchers, and the expectations for Trey Yesavage's first start in Triple-A. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair looks back on the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs to open the series and Ernie Clement extending his home run streak to three games. ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers joins the show (10:20) to share what the Jays can expect in the rest of their series against the Cubs, whether they did enough at the deadline, Kyle Tucker's future, and how the Brewers have found their NL-leading success this season. Later, Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (28:50) weighs in on Clement's timely hot stretch, Alek Manoah's rocky Triple-A rehab start, José Berríos's recent form, and John Schneider's bullpen management since the deadline.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair is joined by current starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and former Blue Jay Matthew Boyd (0:41) to chat about what it was like to be traded for David Price, his road back from Tommy John in 2024, his relationship with the Cubs' front office, and the team's aspirations to return to the World Series. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (17:00) to discuss how much of a boost Andrés Giménez will give to the clubhouse returning for the final stretch towards the postseason, José Berríos losing steam, and Jeff Hoffman's recent form. To wrap up the show, we hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro discussing his future with the organisation.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair welcomes in guest co-host, MLB Network's Jon Morosi, to share a national perspective on the Blue Jays ahead of their series against the Chicago Cubs. They look at the Jays' standing in the AL, share takeaways from Mark Shapiro's availability, and project what the Jays might do with their rotation when Shane Bieber is ready. Later, Jays Special Assistant and retired MLB outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (31:31) reflects on winning a World Series with the Dodgers in his final season, his transition to coaching, and the clubhouse culture in the Jays' minor league system.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair welcomes David Samson (1:05), host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, to chat about the dumpster fire around the New York Yankees since the trade deadline, the Blue Jays' success on the recent road trip despite dropping two games against the L.A. Dodgers, how he would approach a prospect making debuting in September, Dave Roberts calling out Shohei Ohtani, and Jen Pawol becoming the first female umpire in MLB. Then, to wrap up the show, Jeff heads to the Back-Leg Line to hear some of your calls and questions about the Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers and recent road trip! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair is hosting solo this week, and he kicks it off with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers in LA. Then, the Athletic's Mitch Bannon (15:38) breaks down the Jays' promotion of No. 1 prospect Trey Yesavage to Triple-A, whether he can factor in for the Jays down the stretch, and the unmistakable impact of George Springer's absence. Later, after his return to the booth this weekend, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:15) stops by to evaluate John Schneider's bullpen usage since the deadline, what Yesavage needs to do to earn a spot in the big leagues this season, and how the team has evolved since he was last in the booth.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (2:05) ahead of the team's weekend series in LA. He shares an update on George Springer, Andrés Giménez, and Anthony Santander, the ideal goal Shane Bieber will need to reach before a return to the Majors, balancing playing time for his infielders and managing tough decisions, how he views this matchup against the World Series champs, Vladdy's effectiveness at the plate and how Alejandro Kirk has adjusted to catching new pitchers. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (36:25) to chat about his expectations for Max Scherzer against the Dodgers, how Jays' pitching matches up against Dodgers' hitting, Schneider's options out of the pen, and whether Bo Bichette will strive against the champs.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker set the stage for the Jays' weekend series in LA against the Dodgers, and what to expect in the Hall-of-Fame head-to-head tonight between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. They debate which of the vets had the better prime, whether Shane Bieber is a lock for a postseason start, and storylines to watch at Dodger Stadium. Later, LA Times' Bill Shaikin (27:35) joins the show to discuss how Kershaw has evolved in his veteran years, what's behind Mookie Betts' struggles, the plan for Shohei Ohtani down the stretch and whether he will pitch in the playoffs.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.