Alek Manoah back mid-September offers Jays strong upside as a late-season anchor in fantasy rotations.

Manoah’s recovery pace is reason for optimism as he nears a big-league return. If he retakes the rotation with command and stamina, Manoah can stabilize the Jays’ innings and deliver notable fantasy value in rest-of-season formats.

Manoah pitched 5 1/3 innings in his third rehab start for Buffalo; 85 pitches, three unearned runs; Cy Young finalist in 2022; elbow reconstruction in 2024; still on Jays’ radar with a possible Toronto/Buffalo path back.

Manoah’s second Buffalo rehab start covered 5 1/3 innings with 85 pitches, not allowing an earned run, and touching 93.9 mph on the fastball. The performance hints at a likely return to Toronto’s rotation and could reshape rest-of-season projections for Jays pitchers and stack plans.

Manoah’s UCL surgery recovery is being paced for a 2026 return, with minor-league ramping and velocity-building efforts foregrounded. His process-leaning rehab is paired with Jays depth options to cover innings in the interim, signaling a long-term performance plan rather than a quick fix.