Blue Jays Struggling with Reliever's 24.55 ERA

Brendon Little's early-season struggles have the team searching for answers.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:58am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Toronto Blue Jays are facing a puzzling situation with relief pitcher Brendon Little, who has posted a staggering 24.55 ERA through his first five appearances of the 2026 season. Despite a solid track record the past two years, Little has been unable to find his footing, getting shelled in multiple outings and failing to keep the team in games.

Why it matters

The Blue Jays' bullpen has been a strength in the early going, with several relievers posting impressive numbers. However, Little's struggles are dragging down the unit's overall performance and putting added pressure on the rest of the pitching staff and the offense to pick up the slack.

The details

In his five appearances so far, Little has allowed 10 earned runs in just 3.2 innings of work. His outings have followed a troubling pattern, with the left-hander surrendering multiple runs in four of his five appearances, including a three-run outing on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox where he recorded just one out.

  • On April 1, Little allowed three runs in 0.2 innings against the Oakland Athletics.
  • On April 3, he gave up four runs in 0.2 innings against the Colorado Rockies.
  • On April 5, Little allowed another run to the Rockies in one inning of work.
  • On April 7, he threw a scoreless frame against the Chicago White Sox.
  • On April 8, Little gave up three runs and recorded just one out against the White Sox.

The players

Brendon Little

A left-handed relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who has struggled mightily to start the 2026 season, posting a 24.55 ERA through his first five appearances.

John Schneider

The manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, who entered the season with high expectations for Little based on his solid performance the past two years.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Blue Jays will need to evaluate whether to keep giving Little opportunities or make a change in the bullpen to address his struggles. With the rest of the relief corps performing well, the team may need to consider alternative options if Little cannot turn things around quickly.

The takeaway

Brendon Little's early-season struggles have become a concerning issue for the Blue Jays, who were counting on the left-hander to be a reliable piece of their bullpen. The team must now decide whether to continue riding out the rough patch or make a change to shore up the relief corps and give themselves the best chance to win games.