Jeff Hoffman Fantasy Stats

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed closer Jeff Hoffman, who famously blew the save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last fall, blew his first save opportunity of the 2026 season as well on Opening Day on Friday against the Athletics. Hoffman entered in the top of the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead and allowed a solo shot to catcher Shea Langeliers, his second of the day, to even the score. Luckily for the veteran right-hander, the Blue Jays scored in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off and give Hoffman his first win of the season. In his inning of work, the 33-year-old struck out four batters (one reached on a wild pitch). Hoffman should have a longer leash at the back end of the Blue Jays' bullpen early this season with Yimi Garcia (elbow) on the injured list, but if he continues to struggle, either Garcia or Louis Varland could get some closing opportunities for Toronto. Hoffman had a career-high 33 saves in 2025, but he also had a shaky 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 regular-season innings. It's just one blown save, but more struggles could quickly put him on the hot seat as the Jays' closer in 2026.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman has been added to the United States of America's roster for the World Baseball Classic, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. He will join the team for the semifinals in Miami, replacing now-retired pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Now 33 years old, Hoffman has been an effective bullpen arm late into his career. While his FIP did jump to 4.90 last year, he still locked down 33 saves for a Jays team that won the American League pennant. Hoffman finished 2025 with 11.12 K/9 and 3.57 BB/9, leaving home runs as his biggest issue. If he can reduce the amount of loud contact he surrenders in 2026, he can return to being one of MLB's top closers while delivering high-leverage innings for a competitive baseball team. In the short term, he'll have a similarly important role pitching out of the USA's bullpen as the WBC continues.

When asked about right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he's "100 percent confident if he's closing most games," according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. General manager Ross Atkins said in November that the Blue Jays weren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026 after he struggled in late-game situations in 2025. The 33-year-old veteran had a career-high 33 saves, but he also had a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 innings during the regular season, and he famously blew Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hoffman should see most of the team's save chances to open the season, but both Yimi Garcia (elbow) and Louis Varland are options to save games if Hoffman struggles. He'll be on a much shorter leash in 2026.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman posted a career-high 33 saves last year, and he should continue to rack up save situations in 2026. Hoffman's first five years in the majors were skewed by ugly results at Coors Park, but he instantly posted better results upon leaving Denver. He spent two years each with the Reds and Phillies in mid-level bullpen roles. Still, prior to 2024, he had not posted more than one save in a single season. His saves total jumped to 10 in 2024 with Philadelphia, and he more than tripled that number in his first campaign north of the border last year. Barring an unforeseen bullpen splash, the Jays appear content with Hoffman in their closer role in 2026, and for good reason. He posted a 3.73 xFIP last year with 11.12 K/9, 3.57 BB/9, and a 39.4% ground ball rate. Meanwhile, three of his four pitches graded out as "above average" in FanGraphs' Stuff+ model. If anything was worth picking apart from Hoffman's profile last year, it would have been his tendency to allow home runs. His home run rate soared to 1.99 HR/9, but a gap of more than one whole point between his FIP and xFIP indicates he may have just been unlucky. We're still expecting big things from Hoffman in 2026. As it stands, he ranks as the #18 relief pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman picked up his 33rd save of the season on Friday in his team's 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Hoffman walked two batters in the ninth inning, but managed to make it out of the inning without allowing a run. The 32-year-old has had an up-and-down season, pitching to a 9-7 record with a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 84 strikeouts in 68 innings. However, Hoffman has been effective in the season's final month, allowing just one earned run across 11 appearances in September.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (9-7) suffered his seventh loss of the season in a 3-2 decision against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. The right-hander entered a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning, and after getting the leadoff hitter out, he allowed what proved to be the game-winning home run to Yainer Diaz. Hoffman retired the next two batters, including a strikeout of Jose Altuve, but the damage was done. Wednesday's performance was the latest in a long line of shaky outings this season for the 32-year-old. Although Hoffman has surrendered 15 homers in 62 1/3 innings, he still has manager John Schneider in his corner. "He's got good stuff. (I) still trust him. He's been throwing the ball really well, and it was one bad pitch tonight," Schneider said of Hoffman, who owns a 4.76 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP, 79:21 K:BB, 30 saves, and seven blown saves.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (8-6) took his sixth loss of the year in a 4-1 game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Hoffman entered a 1-1 contest in the top of the ninth inning and proceeded to allow back-to-back home runs to Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich. Hoffman went on to give up a walk and an RBI double, and he was pulled after recording two outs. It was the second blowup in a three-appearance span for the right-hander, who has now yielded eight earned runs on 10 hits (including three HRs) and 13:9 K:BB in 11 innings in August. While Hoffman has 29 saves, a 1.19 WHIP, and 75:20 K:BB in 56 1/3 innings this season, his ERA has climbed to an unappealing 5.11. Manager John Schneider gave Hoffman a vote of confidence after the game while also acknowledging his struggles, saying: "He's got 29 saves. He's shown that he can do it. We've got to figure out, not just him but multiple guys, their strike throwing and locating. We're going to make the best decision for everyone to try to win every single night."

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman threw a scoreless ninth inning on Thursday to lock up a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs and record his 27th save of the season. Hoffman allowed a one-out single to Nico Hoerner, but he struck out the other three hitters he faced (Owen Caissie, Willi Castro, and Dansby Swanson) in a 12-pitch frame. The right-hander threw 10 strikes and has now gone back-to-back appearances without walking a hitter. That's reassuring for the Blue Jays and fantasy managers after Hoffman issued a stunning five free passes over two-thirds of an inning in a 5-4 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday. Aside from that outing, Hoffman has demonstrated good control all season. The 32-year-old now has a 4.32 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP, 69 strikeouts, and 16 walks over 50 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman couldn't find the plate on Sunday, but he somehow picked up the win in a 5-4 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hoffman entered in the bottom of the eighth with a 4-3 lead, two outs, and runners on first and second. He walked Will Smith to load the bases and issued another free pass to Freddie Freeman to tie the game. Hoffman then got Michael Conforto to foul out to escape the jam with minimal damage. After the Jays regained a one-run lead on a ninth-inning Ernie Clement homer, they trotted Hoffman back out to finish the game. While he did get an out on a sacrifice bunt, Hoffman walked the other three hitters he faced to load the bases again. That was enough for manager John Schneider to replace Hoffman with Mason Fluharty, who earned his first save by striking out Shohei Ohtani and inducing a Mookie Betts groundout. Thanks to Fluharty's heroics, Hoffman improved to 7-4 despite walking five hitters, throwing a mere 10 strikes on 33 pitches, and collecting his fifth blown save in 31 opportunities. He recorded two outs and didn't allow an earned run, but his BB/9 skyrocketed from 2.04 to 3.00. The Jays and fantasy managers can only hope Hoffman's sudden loss of control on Sunday was a fluke.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman recorded his 21st save of the year in an 8-5 victory against the New York Yankees on Thursday. Hoffman allowed a one-out double to Jasson Dominguez, but he retired the other three hitters (one via strikeout) in a 16-pitch ninth inning. Like many of his teammates, Hoffman had a great series in a four-game sweep of the Yankees. He saved three of those victories and has now gone eight appearances without allowing an earned run. The 32-year-old has converted 84% of save chances this season while registering a 4.58 ERA with 50:10 K:BB and a 1.07 WHIP in 36 1/3 frames. Hoffman has pitched four times in the past five days, meaning the Jays will likely rest him against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.