Patrick Corbin a "long shot" to pitch again in 2026 with teres major strain

Patrick Corbin is unlikely to throw another pitch in 2026. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters — including Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling and MLB.com's Keegan Matheson — that Corbin is a "long shot" to return this season due to a teres major strain.

What happened

Corbin was first placed on the 15-day injured list on July 22 before the Blue Jays transferred him to the 60-day injured list in August. Per Schneider's remarks, even the most optimistic scenario would have had the left-hander available only for the final week of the regular season — a window that is now effectively closed, per the report.

Corbin joined Toronto on a one-year, $1MM deal in early April. He made 15 starts and 19 total appearances, logging 80 innings with a 5.51 ERA before the injury ended his season.

Why it matters

The teres major strain is the latest entry in what Schneider's own words frame as a season-long plague of pitching injuries for Toronto. Nine Blue Jays pitchers are currently on the injured list, a number that has shaped the roster's construction and decision-making since well before September.

Corbin was brought in precisely as an extra arm to absorb innings in a rotation that has been perpetually short-handed. That he delivered 80 innings before landing on the shelf is, in the grim arithmetic of a nine-man IL, something close to a win. The teres major — a muscle that assists shoulder rotation and is distinct from the more commonly discussed rotator cuff — is not a minor inconvenience, and Schneider's "long shot" framing leaves little room for optimism about a late-season cameo.

The broader pitching picture in Toronto is not improving quickly. Trey Yesavage, recovering from meniscus surgery, has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, per Schneider. Shane Bieber is approximately 10 to 11 days behind Yesavage's progress, also per Schneider's remarks. Neither timeline suggests either pitcher is a near-term option for the active roster.

Is Corbin expected to pitch again this season?

Per Schneider's comments to Zwelling and Matheson, the answer is almost certainly no. The "long shot" label, combined with the 60-day IL placement that has been in place since August, leaves the Blue Jays with no realistic path to a Corbin appearance before the regular season ends. The 60-day injured list removes a player from the 40-man roster count, a designation clubs typically reserve when a return within the season is genuinely in doubt.

The numbers

Corbin's 2026 season line — 80 innings, 5.51 ERA across 15 starts and 19 appearances — tells the story of a veteran arm asked to eat innings in a difficult situation. The one-year, $1MM contract reflected the market's assessment of what Corbin could offer at this stage of his career, and the innings total suggests he delivered on the primary ask before the injury intervened.

Where the club stands

Toronto enters September 7 at 72-72 (.500), sitting fourth in the AL East, 13.5 games behind the division leader. In the Wild Card race, the Blue Jays rank fourth, sitting 1.0 relative to the cut line, and arrive at this juncture on a one-game losing streak.

The schedule sends Toronto to Sutter Health Park for a three-game series against the Athletics. Dylan Cease is the probable starter against Jacob Lopez on Monday, September 7. José Soriano is lined up against Jack Perkins on Tuesday, September 8, with Wednesday's probable not yet listed.

The 72-72 record and the Wild Card positioning mean every game carries weight, which makes the depth of the pitching staff a live operational question rather than a background concern. A rotation that has cycled through nine injured pitchers this season is now asking Cease, Soriano, and whoever follows them to carry the load through the final weeks.

What we don't know yet

Schneider's "long shot" framing stops short of a formal announcement that Corbin's season is over. The precise timeline for Yesavage's return from bullpen sessions to active-roster availability has not been reported. Bieber's status carries the same uncertainty — Schneider's "10 to 11 days behind Yesavage" benchmark is a relative marker, not a target date. Whether either pitcher could contribute before the regular season concludes remains an open question.

It is also worth noting that Corbin's one-year deal means his status beyond 2026 is entirely unresolved. Whether Toronto or any other club has interest in the veteran southpaw for next season has not been reported.

What to watch

The most immediate question is whether Yesavage's bullpen sessions translate into a rehab assignment and, eventually, an active-roster appearance before the season ends. Bieber's progress relative to Yesavage's serves as a secondary marker. Schneider's injury updates have been the primary source of information on both fronts, so his pregame availability will remain worth monitoring.

On the field, the Athletics series offers Toronto a chance to stabilize a rotation that has been running on fumes. The Wild Card picture — 1.0 relative to the cut line — means the Blue Jays have margin, but not comfort. A week removed from Kazuma Okamoto's first career 4-hit game lifting the club above .500, and a day removed from Jameson Taillon being placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation in what the manager implied could end his season, Toronto is navigating September with a roster that looks nothing like the one it envisioned in April.

Nine pitchers on the injured list is a number that explains a lot about how a $1MM veteran left-hander ends up being a meaningful piece of a contending club's season. It also explains why "long shot" lands with a particular weight when the manager says it in early September.