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Josh Winckowski tosses two scoreless frames in first rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo
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Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Coyle
Sep 11, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 11, 2026, 00:02 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays could soon be receiving help in their bullpen. 
On Thursday night, right-hander Josh Winckowski made his fourth rehab outing and first in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons as he pushes for a return to the majors in 2026. 
Winckowski turned in a pitching line of 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, and threw 36 pitches (23 strikes) during the Bisons’ 11-4 victory over the Charlotte Knights. 
After a scoreless top of the first inning for the Bisons, Winckowski took the mound and retired the Knights on 15 pitches. Winckowski engaged in a six-pitch battle with Rikuu Nishida before getting him to fly out weakly to left fielder Rudy Martin Jr. on a 91 MPH fastball. 
Up next stepped shortstop Riley Unroe, and Winckowski once again got into a six-pitch at-bat before another flyout was run down by Martin in left field. To close out the frame, Winckowski needed only three pitches to strike out Jake Cave swinging on an 85.3 MPH slider. 
Coming back out to begin the bottom of the second inning, Winckowski was greeted with a ringing double by Tim Elko, which was followed by a wild pitch to set up a runner on third with nobody out. 
From there Winckowski buckled down. The 28-year-old got Michael Turner to line out to left before getting Ryan Galanie to pop out to second baseman Davis Schneider to give him a chance to escape the situation unscathed. 
With Elko on third and two out, Winckowski went right after left fielder Junior Perez. Winckowski got ahead 1-2 in the count before finishing off his outing with a swinging strikeout of Perez on an 87 MPH slider. 
Signed to a two-year minor-league deal this offseason, Winckowski has impressed as he attempts to return from an internal brace procedure this past winter. Through four rehab outings, Winckowski is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Winckowski has struck out 10 batters across 8.1 innings pitched and held opponents to a .167 average. 
With injuries to Jameson Taillon, Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber, the Blue Jays have been forced to rely heavily on their bullpen this past month. With Spencer Arrighetti and Michael Lorenzen since arriving in Toronto, Winckowski may earn a shot if he keeps impressing during his rehab outings. 
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