Blue Jays: Louis Varland is showing all the right things in the closer’s spot

The Toronto Blue Jays may have been staring at the answer to their closer situation for a while now. Louis Varland’s display in the ninth inning has been a work of art—getting the job done and looking the part.

From Edwin Díaz to Mason Miller, to veterans like Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, these players illustrate the closer role. When they enter a game and step onto the mound, they command a strong presence. Varland passes the eye test with his 6-foot-1, 205-pound athletic frame; his presence is both intimidating and competitive.

The fact is, he can be inserted into any situation at any point in a game and consistently find success.

The right-hander has built up to a 0.8 WAR so far in 2026, posting an impressive 0.64 ERA across 13 games and 14 innings of work. Varland has allowed just four runs—only one earned—while giving up 11 hits, walking four batters, and striking out 21.

He has finished four games, recording two saves in two opportunities. His debut as the Blue Jays’ fill-in closer is off to a great start, and the quality of his output has been undeniable.

Varland’s pitch profile fits the closer role perfectly

He works with a five-pitch repertoire, including a four-seam fastball, knuckle-curve, changeup, slider, and sinker. His fastball and knuckle-curve are his most-used pitches and, statistically, his best put-away options.

His four-seam fastball holds a 30.4% put-away rate, while the knuckle-curve sits at 18.5% based on usage so far in 2026. Varland’s fastball is exactly what you expect from a Major League closer, averaging 98.2 mph and touching 100 mph, with 7.8 inches of induced arm-side run. The pitch carries a 31.6% whiff rate, a .130 batting average against, and accounts for 14 of his 21 strikeouts.

The knuckle-curve features 43.2 inches of vertical drop and sits in the mid-80s. It also holds a 36.6% whiff rate, serving as an excellent chase pitch. Overall, Varland owns a 40.4% strikeout rate this season, demonstrating clear dominance over opposing hitters. His most recent save was a four-batter inning in a 4–2 game, allowing just one hit, inducing a fielder’s choice groundout, and recording two strikeouts. What stood out in that outing was his command, accuracy, and pitch execution.

Varland effectively mixed his changeup, fastball, and knuckle-curve to stay ahead in the count, creating a 6–12 mph velocity gap to disrupt timing. He worked both the top and bottom of the zone effectively and attacked hitters inside when needed.

Varland is a strong fit for the Blue Jays’ closer role, with Jeff Hoffman being ousted from the spot late last week. His overall pitch profile and execution allow him to succeed in this volatile role. He combines physical tools, pitch quality, command, and presence—traits that give him the ability to control high-leverage situations.

There’s a reason the Minnesota product is getting an opportunity to close out games for the Blue Jays, and until he proves otherwise, he should remain in that spot.