When the Toronto Blue Jays signed veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin in April, it seemed like a short-term fix—a stopgap until the rotation got healthy. But as the season unfolds, circumstances have shifted, and Corbin is quietly proving he might be sticking around for a much longer stay.
On Wednesday, Corbin took the loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. While the box score shows an "L" next to his name, the real culprit in this series was Toronto's offense—or lack thereof. The Blue Jays were swept in a three-game set at Tropicana Field, scoring just four runs total. That extends Toronto's losing streak at the ballpark to six games dating back to 2024, and they've dropped eight of their last nine there, managing only 12 runs in those eight losses.
"Blue Jays lose, 3-0, and get swept by the Rays in Tropicana Field. They scored a total of four runs in this three-game series," noted Brian Murphy of MLB.com. "Toronto has lost six straight games in this building and eight of its past nine. It has scored a total of 12 runs in those eight losses."
Despite the team's offensive struggles, Corbin's role is becoming increasingly important. Originally signed out of necessity, the expectation was that the 36-year-old would be released or moved to the bullpen once the Jays' injured starters returned. But that return hasn't happened—and it's not looking likely anytime soon.
Max Scherzer remains on the injured list with forearm and ankle issues, and he recently admitted his forearm isn't responding well. He's headed for more doctor consultations. Shane Bieber is also sidelined with forearm fatigue and hasn't even progressed to facing live hitters. Meanwhile, José Berríos, who was throwing rehab games at Triple-A, is now scheduled for an MRI on his still-ailing elbow.
With those setbacks, Corbin is likely to hold onto his rotation spot for the foreseeable future. The Syracuse, N.Y. native brings 14 years of big-league experience, having pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, and now the Blue Jays. A two-time All-Star, Corbin owns a career record of 111-143 with a 4.49 ERA.
His finest moment came in 2019, when he helped the Nationals win the World Series, going 14-7 with a 3.25 ERA. But his career took a downturn after that, leading the National League in losses each year from 2021 through 2023. Now, at 36, Corbin is getting another chance to prove he can still contribute—and this time, he's working toward making that stay a lot longer than anyone expected.