Blue Jays Promote Josh Fleming, Designate Austin Voth for Release

The Toronto Blue Jays have made significant roster changes ahead of an upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They announced the selection of left-hander Josh Fleming’s contract while designating right-hander Austin Voth for assignment. This decision reflects their ongoing adjustments in response to recent injuries and illness affecting their pitching staff.

Roster Moves: Fleming Called Up, Voth Designated for Release

With Cody Ponce sidelined due to an injury and Eric Lauer battling the flu, the Blue Jays opted to bring in Fleming to bolster their bullpen. Initially, Lazaro Estrada was recalled to address the pitching gaps. However, Lauer’s illness forced him to delay his start, prompting a bullpen game in which Estrada pitched four innings.

• Josh Fleming has been promoted from Triple-A Buffalo.
• Austin Voth has been designated for assignment.

Fleming’s Major League Comeback

Fleming returns to the majors after a gap of several years, originally signing a minor league contract in the offseason. In his recent outing with Triple-A Buffalo, he pitched 3 2/3 innings, using 57 pitches, which indicates that he is adequately stretched for MLB competition.

Over his career from 2020 to 2024, Fleming has accumulated 254 2/3 innings across 25 starts and 55 relief appearances. His statistics show an earned run average (ERA) of 4.77 with a strikeout rate of 14.6%. Despite a lower average fastball velocity of approximately 91 miles per hour, he demonstrated strong control, allowing only 7.5% of batters faced to walk.

Austin Voth’s Departure

Austin Voth’s time with the Blue Jays was cut short after he contributed 2 2/3 innings of relief in a recent game, surrendering one earned run. He has spent the previous year playing in Japan, where he recorded a 3.96 ERA. Given his five years of service time, Voth cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent, which places him on the waiver wire.

• Voth has a career ERA of 4.69 across 363 big league innings.
• If he clears waivers, he might elect free agency due to his service time.

Upcoming Challenges for the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays face the Dodgers with a pitching lineup that includes Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, and Dylan Cease. Given recent challenges, including potential further roster shuffling, the team is looking for stability as they navigate a busy April schedule.

As they prepare for this demanding series, additional reinforcements may be on the horizon. Patrick Corbin is expected to join the team soon after signing a major league deal, while Trey Yesavage is working through an injury and is making progress in his rehab outings.