Blair & Barker

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the news that José Berríos has undergone Tommy John surgery before being joined by Pittsburgh general manager and former Blue Jays executive Ben Cherington (13:05) ahead of the Pirates' weekend series in Toronto. He shares his thoughts on the Pirates' season so far, Brandon Lowe's impact, how Konnor Griffin has adjusted to the majors, and Paul Skenes' elite mentality. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability. Finally, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (32:02) shares the latest on Alejandro Kirk's status, what the team expects from Trey Yesavage against the Yankees, Daulton Varsho's recent adjustment at the dish, the plan for Spencer Miles and the fifth spot in the rotation, and what the batting order might look like when the team is fully 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 look back at the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Yankees, Dylan Cease's outing, and the lack of converting runs in big moments from Toronto's top two hitters in Springer and Guerrero. Then, World Series champion, former pitcher and MLB Network's Ryan Dempster stops by (29:18) to chat about what has changed for the Phillies since Don Mattingly took over the managerial job, the Padres/Dodgers rivalry, Shohei Ohtani's performance so far this season on both end of the bat, his concern level with the Blue Jays' year so far after their World Series berth a year ago, Cease's pitching arsenal and the state of the American League. 

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 Newsday Yankees reporter Erik Boland (3:05) ahead of the Blue Jays' second game in the Bronx. They discuss the breaking news that Gerrit Cole will return this week, what the Jays bats can expect from Will Warren, Aaron Judge's season so far, and whether Ben Rice's hot start is sustainable. Then, Jeff and Kevin chat about where Judge stands on the list of the greatest hitters of all time before listening to John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, the voice of the Blue Jays, Dan Shulman (27:55), stops by to discuss the vibes in New York, positive signs from George Springer despite a rough final at-bat, John Schneider's decision to go to Yariel Rodriguez, how Dylan Cease should approach the Yankees' lineup, Brandon Valenzuela's eventful Yankee Stadium debut, and why tonight's matchup is a 'must-win.'

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 New York Yankees series opening win over the Blue Jays, how both teams found ways to score runs, Yariel Rodriguez's 7th inning collapse, George Springer and Vlad Jr.'s at-bats against David Bednar in the 9th, Dylan Cease vs. the Yankees, how the relievers are working to keep runners from stealing and Brandon Valenzuela's home plate tag attempt on Anthony Volpe. Then, YES Network analyst and 4x all-star pitcher with the Yankees, Dellin Betances, stops by (23:37) to share his thoughts on how top-heavy the AL East has become, his experience pitching at Yankee Stadium, how Aaron Boone has evolved as a manager, and roles out of the bullpen. 

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.

MLB Network analyst and former catcher Alex Avila (2:43) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the state of the American League after 40 games, how players break out of mid-season slumps, what Brandon Valenzuela can expect in his first game behind the plate at Yankee Stadium, and why Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has so much success in the Bronx. Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability before welcoming in Yankees radio analyst Suzyn Waldman (31:20) to discuss the recent offensive drop-off in New York, solutions for their struggling bullpen, their ceiling in 2026, and her conversation with Bo Bichette.

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.