Blair & Barker

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the abridged, post-game edition with a look back over the Jays' 6-0 win over the Guardians before welcoming in New Hampshire Fisher Cats manager Brent Lavalee (4:10). The skipper gets into the season so far for the Fisher Cats, Trey Yesavage's performance since his promotion to Double-A and the difference between evaluating pitching and hitting. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (28:00) stops by to tee up the Sox series against the Blue Jays — Boston's first trip back home since trading Rafael Devers. He discusses how the team will be received back home after a five-game losing streak, their path to the postseason, the pressure on rookie Roman Anthony, what's behind Jarren Duran's fall-off and much more. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with a chat about what to expect from Max Scherzer in his return to the mound before listening to John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Jays' second game against the Guardians. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (26:11) stops by to discuss his recently published article on trade candidates around the majors. He gets into the chances of Alex Bregman getting dealt, what position the Jays should try to improve, whether the Orioles will double down on their young core or shake it up at the deadline, and why the Pirates should be considering a Paul Skenes trade. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays series opening win against the Cleveland Guardians, why John Schneider's decisions shows how important the series is, Chad Green now leading the Majors with the most homeruns allowed, Andrés Giménez becoming a mainstay in the infield despite his hitting woes, and Spencer Turnbull DFA'd for the returning Max Scherzer. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (25:55) stops by in-studio to preview Scherzer's return to the mound, what adjustments Green and Jeff Hoffman need to make, when it would be appropriate to reconsider the 9th inning role, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find his timing against the fastball. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (1:30). He discusses why so many Dodgers pitchers are getting hurt, how they mitigate the risks associated with Shohei Ohtani pitching, their rivalry with the Padres, and the challenge of managing multiple superstars for Dave Roberts. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Blue Jays manager John Schneider's pregame availability, where he discussed Alek Manoah's progress and Yimi García's looming return. Finally, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their reactions to Ernie Clement's promotion to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, Eric Lauer's start against the Cleveland Guardians, and why they're still optimistic about Jeff Hoffman coming out of his struggles in the 9th innings. Then, Guardians TV analyst Chris Gimenez (32:24) stops by to chat about Cleveland's issues against left-handed pitchers, Logan Allen's adjustments since his last start against the Blue Jays, why Emmanuel Clase could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, Cade Smith's strong ability to keep the ball in the yard, and what he would keep an eye on when Max Scherzer returns to the mound. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Former MLB Pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (1:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to comment on John Schneider sticking by Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays’ play and standing in the American League, the Phillies sitting pretty in the NL East, and the depth of the Rays’ rotation, before looking ahead to Chase Burns’ MLB debut vs. the Yankees and the upcoming Paul Skenes-Jacob Misiorowski pitching duel. ESPN College Baseball analyst Kyle Peterson (32:46) recaps LSU’s second win in three years at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha as they defeated Coastal Carolina and discusses the decision by umpires to eject Coastal Carolina’s manager and first-base coach in the first inning of the deciding game. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, John Schneider reinforcing his belief in Jeff Hoffman despite his struggles as their closer, the options outside Hoffman, Max Scherzer's comments ahead of his return to the mound, and how Ernie Clement has been able to hunt and attack the fastball. Then, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (28:08) stops by to chat about the level of concern surrounding Hoffman, if we could see an increased workload for Yariel Rodriguez, Scherzer's rehab and pending return, why Anthony Santander's injury might be more serious than originally believed, Andrés Giménez's offensive trajectory and if Ernie can become an everyday MLB player. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:05) to detail his latest article surrounding the Boston Red Sox's messy breakup with Rafael Devers. He chronicles the lack of continuity in the Red Sox management structure, their declining payroll year over year and how this saga impacts the Red Sox's future ability to recruit high-profile free agents. Then, he weighs in on which AL teams will emerge in the postseason, the Braves' deadline direction and the Dodgers/Padres rivalry heating up. Finally, former MLB second baseman Gordon Beckham (30:21) stops by to tee up the Chicago White Sox's weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a cap on the Blue Jays' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Vlad Jr.'s comfortability in the third spot in the order, Kevin Gausman's reflection on his performances in June and loss to the D-Backs, and how Toronto's front office will look into the pitching market in search of a number two starter. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (24:30) stops by to chat about Nick Sandlin's return to the main roster, Addison Barger's transition into the outfield and up in the batting order, Alejandro Kirk's bat finding a way to the opposite field, and if Gausman will have to tinker with his pitches as he progresses through his career. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with some thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions, including whether Vladdy is a 'slow starter,' where Addison Barger fits best, Ernie Clement's potential and much more. Later, Blue Jays Central's Joe Siddall stops by (28:00) to share why he's not a fan of Vladdy hitting third in the order, the next step in Barger's development, how Eric Lauer has found success with his fastball, whether there's any concern for the bullpen's increased workload and how the Jays have gotten the best out of Alejandro Kirk. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a look back at the Blue Jays' walk-off win in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, how optimistic they are about the batting order finding success, the first game with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting third, and Addison Barger's future hitting in the two-hole. Then, D-Backs legend and special advisor Luis Gonzalez stops by (24:12) to chat about how the team has handled Corbin Burnes's injury, what Josh Naylor has brought to the lineup, if it's difficult to hit in today's game versus when he was playing, the tightly contested NL West, and Torey Lovullo's tenure has Arizona's manager. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former MLB executive David Samson (0:23) to weigh in on the Rafael Devers blockbuster, why it was inevitable, Craig Breslow's comments on Devers after the trade and why the deal could be considered a win for the Red Sox. Then, he shares how the Blue Jays should approach the trade deadline, whether a 2026 lockout is a guarantee and much more. Later, Chris Leroux joins the show (29:53) from the booth at Rogers Centre to discuss Erik Swanson getting DFA'd, whether Bowden Francis can find his form with a reset on the IL and his expectations for Chris Bassitt in the Jays' series opener against the Diamondbacks. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays roster moves, including Bowden Francis heading to the IL, Erik Swanson getting DFA'd and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shifting one spot down in the batting order. Then, the guys chat about Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound since his Tommy John surgery and if this is the best case for the L.A. Dodgers moving forward. Then, D-Backs reporter Nick Piecoro stops by (27:50) to chat about the team's pitching injuries including Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John, how Rafael Devers playing in the NL West impacts Arizona's approach to the trade deadline, Josh Naylor's future, and what has kept Gabriel Moreno in the lineup. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:15) to reflect on the team's series in Philadelphia where they were swept by the Phillies. They discuss the positives from Bowden Francis's latest start, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s swing decisions and Max Scherzer's rehab start. Then, Jeff and Kevin get into whether John Schneider should separate Bo and Vladdy in the lineup. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (24:56) shares what led to Rafael Devers getting traded from the Boston Red Sox, the Giants' management's aggression and Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound for the Dodgers. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays weekend series against the Phillies, signs of improvement from Bowden Francis despite the losing result, Chad Green and Eric Swanson's inconsistency, and growing concerns about Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s at-bat decisions. Then, the guys shift their attention to an MLB-shaking trade that saw long-time Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers moved to the San Francisco Giants and the end of a season-long drama within Boston's clubhouse. Afterwards, former MLB player and Giants' analyst F.P. Santangelo (29:11) stops by to give his thoughts on the team's newest addition to the lineup, how the Red Sox may have handled juggling Devers' role, and his ideal lineup for the Giants. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. (1:00) ahead of the Blue Jays' weekend series in Philadelphia to kick off the final hour of the week. They get into the Phillies' recent power outage, what the Jays bats can expect from Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zach Wheeler, what's gone wrong for former Phillie Jeff Hoffman in Toronto and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin review Hoffman's availability ahead of his return to Philly. Finally, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (31:40) looks at the Blue Jays' recent hot streak and how it will impact their approach to the trade deadline, the teams that will be most aggressive on the trade market ahead of July 31, and why the Dodgers' pitchers can't stay healthy. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker preview the Blue Jays' rematch against the Phillies in Philadelphia, how they can attack left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez, why Toronto's lineup performs well against lefties, and whether Kevin Gausman can build off his 6-inning outing against the Minnesota Twins. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:58) stops by to chat about his lineup's success against lefties, updates on his injured players including Max Scherzer's rehab stint in Buffalo, Kevin Gausman's splitter, how Jeff Hoffman has handled his recent up and down stretch and if Yariel Rodriguez is ready for an extended 9th-inning role. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:17) in on the Blue Jays' off-day. They get into where the Jays rank among the best batting orders in baseball, how recent headline pitcher injuries shape the trade market, how the Braves approach the deadline and much more. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (29:15) joins the show to discuss the dysfunction in Boston, the plan for Rafael Devers, their deadline priorities and how they've handled Roman Anthony's arrival. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. They get into whether Yariel Rodriguez is ready to take over the closer's role, whether it's beneficial to have multiple options available to pitch in the 9th inning and the Jays' identity and plate approach through June. Then, Jeff and Kevin go through the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' calls! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Sportsnet Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi (1:50) to kick off the second hour, and they get into the team's pitching options as they work around Bowden Francis's enduring struggles, whether they will look to add to their injured bullpen at the deadline, Jonatan Clase's maturity and whether Addison Barger's trial batting second can become permanent. Later, Athletics' Canadian outfielder Denzel Clarke (28:54) relives his highlight-reel home run robbery against the Angels before discussing his process in the outfield, how he's adjusting to the big leagues and his experience playing in his hometown in Toronto. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.