Jake

Bloss

The Jays have gone carefully with Bloss since picking him up from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade. The 23-year-old was a major leaguer at the time of that deal, but the Jays sent him down and have limited to just 15 1/3 innings in the month since he arrived in the organization. It suggests we won’t be seeing him in the majors this month.

Bloss was acquired Monday in the deal for Yusei Kikuchi, but the 23-year-old will have to wait a bit to make his debut with the Blue Jays. He put up sensational numbers in Triple-A, but he did scuffle in his limited time in the majors. He’ll be matchup dependent when he gets the call to join Toronto.

This just seems like such a peak Vince Carter slam dunk for Toronto that we can’t help but wonder what the Astros’ concerns were in regard to Bloss. He was one of this year’s fastest rising prospects, having posted a 1.64 ERA in 13 starts at three minor league levels before recently debuting in the majors. If this had just been a one-for-one with Bloss and Kikuchi, we would have called it a win for the Blue Jays. That they received two other intriguing players, too, is just incredible, and all for a free-agent-to-be. Bloss might go right into Toronto’s rotation, and while he’s probably not a mixed-league guy for the rest of 2024, he’ll be a 2025 sleeper.

Bloss’s major league career isn’t off to a great start, but he’s an excellent prospect, and if this signals a trade, it’d have to be for someone pretty good. Alternatively, it could be an injury of some sort.

He allowed four home runs on the day but just five hard-hit baseballs while producing a solid 28 percent whiff rate and 34 percent CSW. Still, the home runs count the same as always, which makes this the second straight mediocre start for Bloss since coming off the IL. He has a 6.94 ERA so far, and the Astros will certainly be looking to upgrade at the trade deadline if Justin Verlander and Luis Garcia continue to take a while to return from injuries. If Bloss remains in the rotation, he’s a risky stream next week against the Pirates.

Bloss struck out four and issued only one walk on Thursday night in his return from the injured list. He gave up four hits, including a solo homer to Bryan De La Cruz. The bigger issue here was that it took him a staggering 82 pitches (50 strikes) to complete four frames. The 23-year-old pitching prospect has shown some promise in a pair of outings so far, allowing four runs on 10 hits with a 6/2 K/BB ratio across 7 2/3 innings.

It’s a tantalizing matchup for streaming purposes, especially in deeper mixed leagues, as Bloss will take the ball on Thursday night against the Marlins, who rank 29th in runs scored this season, in his return from the injured list. The 23-year-old pitching prospect ascended to the big leagues back in late June when he suffered a shoulder injury during his debut.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Bloss completed a bullpen session on Thursday without any issues and is on track to start on Thursday, barring anything unexpected. The 23-year-old pitching prospect hit the injured list last month after suffering a shoulder ailment during his big-league debut.

Bloss injured his shoulder during his MLB debut back in June and was subsequently put on the IL. He may not need more than one or two rehab appearances before the Astros consider giving him another shot at the rotation, but with Luis Garcia (elbow) also nearing his return, the Astros could opt to keep Bloss at Triple-A for the near future.

Bloss resumed throwing earlier this week and figures to be ready to return from the injured list at some point in early July. The 23-year-old rookie landed on the injured list last week with right shoulder inflammation.