Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that Gausman's next start is likely to come Friday against the Mets, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

EDGE Analysis

Easton Lucas is tentatively lined up to start Wednesday in place of Max Scherzer (thumb), as long as Lucas not needed in relief Tuesday. Gausman would be pitching on seven days' rest if he does indeed take the ball Friday.

The Blue Jays could push Gausman's next start back to Friday against the Mets, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gausman is currently scheduled to take the ball Wednesday versus the Nationals, but the Blue Jays might have Easton Lucas start that day if he's not needed in long relief before then. There does not appear to be anything wrong physically with Gausman, as this would simply give him a couple extra days of rest and also allow him to face the tougher lineup.

Gausman (1-0) struck out four in six innings, allowing two runs, three hits and one walk in an 8-2 win over the Orioles on Friday

EDGE Analysis

The former Oriole retired the first seven batters he faced before the eighth batter, Jackson Holliday, blasted a solo home run to put Gausman and the Blue Jays behind 1-0. Gausman allowed his second and final run an inning later on a Tyler O'Neill sacrifice fly, but that would be it for Baltimore. Toronto's offense got going in the bottom of the fourth and put up five runs, which was more than enough for the 34-year-old righty to nab the victory. A model of consistency, Gausman will aim for his sixth straight year with an ERA under 4.00 during the 2025 season. He is tentatively lined up for an outing against the Nationals next week.

Gausman topped out at 96.2 mph with his fastball during his spring debut Wednesday against the Pirates, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. The 34-year-old right-hander walked one and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless, no-hit innings while tossing 23 of 38 pitches for strikes.

EDGE Analysis

Gausman dealt with shoulder trouble last spring that prevented him from getting fully stretched out ahead of Opening Day, and he seemed to be playing catch-up all season with both his velocity and his command on his breaking pitches. Gausman finished with a 3.83 ERA and 21.4 percent strikeout rate -- his worst numbers in those categories since 2019 -- over 181 regular-season innings while averaging just 93.9 mph with his fastball. He spent this winter putting on extra muscle, and it showed in his first Grapefruit League action as he averaged 94.9 mph with his heater. If Gausman begins this season healthy, a bounce-back campaign could well be in the cards, as he produced a 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 31.1 percent strikeout rate as recently as 2023.

Gausman threw live batting practice Sunday and will do one more such session before making his first spring start, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gausman is seemingly a little behind the rest of the Jays starters, as Easton Lucas is currently working in Gausman's spot in the Jays' Grapefruit League rotation. It sounds like Gausman is on track to potentially make his first spring start next week. He showed up to camp intentionally carrying more weight because he says he loses weight throughout the MLB season and wanted to better hold up over the full season. In 2024, he had his lowest strikeout rate (21.4 percent) since 2018 and his highest walk rate (7.4 percent) since 2017.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Gausman looks "sturdier" in spring training after the right-hander deliberately put on added weight over the offseason, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. "I've never really pitched an entire season at over 200 pounds, but I think that might be a possibility for me this year," Gausman said. "We'll see what happens. I usually always lose a good amount of weight during the season, so that's why I try to gain as much as I can, knowing I'll lose some of it."

EDGE Analysis

Gausman is listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds on the Blue Jays' official roster, and he's hopeful that by bulking up during the offseason through both his diet and strength training, he'll be able to maintain that weight over the course of the long season. The 34-year-old righty is also optimistic that a sturdier build will boost his odds of staying healthy and having something closer to a normal spring training in 2025. While he didn't go on the injured list at any point in 2024, a bout with shoulder fatigue early in camp slowed his ramp-up process and may have played a part in the steep drop in both his ERA (3.83) and strikeout rate (21.4 percent) compared to his first two seasons in Toronto (3.25 ERA, 29.7 K%).

Gausman (14-11) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over six innings in a 6-1 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

It's been a disappointing campaign overall for Gausman, but the 33-year-old righty still tied his career high in wins with a sharp performance in his last outing. The quality start was his 16th of the season, and Gausman gave up three earned runs or less in his last nine trips to the mound, posting a 2.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 43:20 K:BB through 56.2 innings over that stretch. The loss of strikeouts is a worrying sign -- his 21.4 percent K rate in 2024 is a huge drop from the 31.1 percent mark he posted the year before -- but he's still expected to head into spring training next season as one of the veteran anchors for Toronto's rotation.

Gausman (back) is listed as the Blue Jays' probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

Gausman was in the midst of a no-hitter his last time out Thursday versus the Rangers before he was lifted after five innings due to back tightness. He said after the start that he was feeling better while suggesting that his early exit was precautionary more than anything, and the Blue Jays' decision to include him in the pitching schedule for the final week of the season seemingly verifies as much. Gausman has been in peak form with the season winding down, as he's produced a 2.03 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 40:17 K:BB over 50.2 innings across his last eight starts.

Gausman said after Thursday's game versus Texas that he isn't too concerned about his lower-back issue and expects to make his next scheduled start, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gausman added that he first felt his back tighten up on him while throwing warm-up pitches, and his lack of concern suggests that his removal after five hitless innings was likely a precautionary decision. He'll carry a 3.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP into his start against the Red Sox next week, which will most likely be his final appearance of 2024.

Gausman was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers due to lower-back tightness.

EDGE Analysis

Gausman was able to get through five shutout innings on just 58 pitches while striking out six batters and walking one before his back forced him to make an early departure. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but the Jays will certainly keep a close eye on him leading up to his next start -- tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Red Sox.