Jose Berrios has been scratched from his start against the Phillies on Thursday A recent MRI during the WBC insurance process revealed inflammation in his right elbow — a different issue than the one he dealt with last season
Blue Jays’ Berrios scratched from start vs. Phillies due to elbow inflammation
Mar 12, 2026, 13:14 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ rotation logjam might be beginning to sort itself out.
Jose Berrios was scratched from his planned start against the Philadelphia Phillies after a recent MRI during the World Baseball Classic insurance process revealed inflammation in his right elbow, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Thursday.
The inflammation is reportedly a different issue than the one he dealt with last season.
Berrios told Blue Jays Nation’s Thomas Hall that he’s “been feeling great, feeling good throwing the ball,” and that he will continue playing catch and long toss from flat ground while his next steps are determined.
It was initially announced on Tuesday by Puerto Rican manager Yadier Molina that Berrios would join the team and be available to pitch in the WBC knockout round, but that was rescinded later that night after Berrios was unable to secure insurance for the tournament.
Berrios, 31, had good results to start 2025, recording a 3.75 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over the first half. However, he battled nagging bicep and elbow issues throughout the season and was eventually placed on the injured list for the first time in his career in late September due to elbow inflammation. The right-hander struggled to a 5.15 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over the second half and had concerning process indicators.
Berrios was left off the Blue Jays’ World Series roster and went to Puerto Rico instead of remaining with the team during the Fall Classic, citing a focus on family and rehab as the reasons for his departure.
He apologized for his absence at the outset of Spring Training.
“I made maybe one bad decision to go back home to keep working on my rehab and stay close to my family,” Berrios said to reporters at the Blue Jays player development complex in February. “At that moment, I wasn’t pitching, I’m not feeling great, and I wanted to be close to my family. I didn’t bring them to Canada because they were going to miss days in school. I thought about that. But I apologize.”
So far in spring action, Berrios has pitched to a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts and four walks over 10 2/3 innings, and has built up to roughly 60 pitches before Spring Training in anticipation of pitching for Puerto Rico.
If Berrios isn’t ready for Opening Day, it stands to reason that either Cody Ponce or Eric Lauer would step into that rotation spot.
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