Hoffman (1-1) blew a save and took the extra-inning loss against the White Sox on Friday, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and no walks with one strikeout while recording two outs in the 10th inning.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman entered the 10th inning with a 4-3 lead and recorded two outs before things unraveled. Tyler Heineman, who came in at catcher mid-inning to replace Alejandro Kirk (thumb), made an errant throw on a bunt single by Derek Hill that allowed the tying run to score. Hill then came around to score on a walkoff single by Tristan Peters. While Hoffman has allowed only one earned run and posted an 11:0 K:BB through his first five appearances this year, he's converted just one of three save chances after a tumultuous 2025 that ended with a blown save in Game 7 of the World Series.

Hoffman earned the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Athletics, allowing one hit and no walks with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and threw nine of 10 pitches for strikes to slam the door. It was a nice rebound after the 33-year-old blew his first save chance Friday, and he's racked up six punchouts through two appearances this season.

Hoffman (1-0) blew the save but came away with the win in Friday's game against the Athletics. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out four across one inning.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffamn was deployed in the ninth inning to preserve the Blue Jays' 2-1 lead. He struck out the first batter he faced before yielding a solo home run to Shea Langeliers. Hoffman struck out each of the next three batters faced (one reached base on a wild pitch), and he ended up coming away with the win after Andres Gimenez drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the frame. It wasn't the start to the season that Hoffman was hoping for, given that he blew the save opportunity in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers in November. He's still considered the Blue Jays' top closer, but guys like Yimi Garcia (elbow) and Louis Varland could get their fair share of save opportunities if Hoffman shows signs of struggle this season.

Hoffman plans to throw his four-seam fastball less often in 2026 while increasing his slider usage, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.

EDGE Analysis

Two years ago with the Phillies, Hoffman threw his slider 47.9 percent of the time and his four-seamer 27.4 percent, and the result was a 2.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 33.2 percent strikeout rate over 52.1 innings, as well as a barrel rate allowed in the 99th percentile and a hard-hit rate allowed in the 95th percentile. In 2025, while feeling the weight of a big free-agent contract from the Jays and his first season as a full-time closer, the right-hander tried to attack the zone more often and threw his fastball 37.4 percent of the time, while reducing his slider usage to 29.9 percent. His numbers took a big step backward as a result, highlighted by a first percentile barrel rate allowed and 58th percentile hard-hit rate allowed. A renewed emphasis on his slider, which generated a career-high 47.4 percent whiff rate last season, should help Hoffman regain some of the dominance that slipped away from him.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that he's "100 percent confident if [Hoffman] is closing most games," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

GM Ross Atkins said early in the offseason that the Blue Jays weren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026, but it appears that's how the club will enter spring training. Toronto inked submariner Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million contract during the winter to bolster the bullpen, but he has just three saves across the past four seasons despite consistently working in a high-leverage role and may be better suited for setup work. Hoffman's first season with the Blue Jays in 2025 was an up-and-down affair, as he closed the regular season with a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while converting 33 of 40 save chances.

General manager Ross Atkins said Thursday that the Blue Jays aren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026, Rob Longley of The Toronto Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Although he finished 2025 with a career-high 33 saves, Hoffman's first year in Toronto was met with struggles. He posted a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 68 innings during the regular season and, most notably, blew a save during Game 7 of the World Series. Atkins brought up Yimi Garcia (elbow) and Louis Varland as potential options to work the ninth inning next season instead of Hoffman and didn't rule out the possibility of acquiring someone in the offseason to fill the role.

Hoffman blew a save against the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two batters over 1.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman entered in the eighth frame with the Blue Jays up 4-3. He got Tommy Edman to ground out to preserve the lead and then struck out the first batter he faced in the ninth, but Hoffman then served up a game-tying solo homer to Miguel Rojas. Over three World Series appearances, that long ball was the only run Hoffman yielded across 4.1 frames.

Hoffman secured the save after striking out three batters in a perfect ninth inning during Monday's 4-3 victory in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman entered the matchup with just three outs standing in the way of a trip to the World Series, and he didn't mess around. He needed only 14 pitches to slam the door, striking out Leo Rivas, Dominic Canzone and Julio Rodriguez to help Toronto advance. Hoffman made four appearances during the ALCS, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out 10 over five innings of work.

Hoffman earned the save in Wednesday's win over the Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. He allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out one batter over 1.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Hoffman was the eighth and final arm to pitch in a bullpen game for the Blue Jays, and while he coughed up a run in the ninth, he ultimately closed the door to send Toronto to the ALCS. While Hoffman was charged with seven blown saves and took seven losses during the regular season, he has allowed just two earned runs in his last 14 appearances dating back to late August, converting all five of his save chances in that span.

Hoffman collected the save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Rays, allowing two walks and no hits over a scoreless frame with no strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Despite issuing two free passes, the Toronto closer wrapped the win on 25 pitches, 14 of which were strikes. This marks the first time Hoffman has walked multiple batters in an outing since Aug. 10, when he granted five free passes in a blown save against the Dodgers. Overall, the righty reliever now sports a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 84:27 K:BB in 68 innings while converting 33 of 40 save chances.