This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

September roster expansion looks a little different now.

Prior to the rules around September expansions changing, clubs added big waves of players for September. Some of these were prospects brought up to watch and learn while others were specialists brought up to steal a base or play the bottom of the ninth, defensively. In cities with cramped clubhouses for the visiting clubs -- think Fenway Park -- this created some bizarre scenes with makeshift lockers and folding chairs in hallways.

Now, teams have to be more precise. On Sept. 1, rosters expand to 28 players with one pitcher and one position player being added. In terms of postseason eligibility, any player on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster or 60-day IL after Aug. 31 qualifies.

Here’s a look at the Blue Jays' options.

Pitchers:
This conversation all depends on Chad Green. The veteran right-hander is scheduled to pitch this weekend with Triple-A Buffalo, but even if he’s ready to be activated a few days prior to Sept. 1, saving his Blue Jays debut for that date might be easiest. Green’s rehab from Tommy John surgery has gone very well, and even after a brief pause to his rehab assignment after being hit in the head by a wayward throw from his catcher, Green has put himself in a position to help Toronto down the stretch.

If an injury pops up elsewhere in the bullpen, the Blue Jays have other options.

RHP Jay Jackson -- Jackson has been excellent when called upon this season, posting a 1.64 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 22 innings. It’s earned him a great deal of respect in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse and front office. If there’s any player not on this roster who deserves a shot at a postseason run, it’s Jackson. The only problem facing Jackson right now is Toronto’s exceptional bullpen depth.

RHP Nate Pearson -- Up and down, up and down… Pearson owns a 5.18 ERA with the big league club this season. The highs have been so encouraging, painting the image of a potential long-term solution in the back end of Toronto’s bullpen. The lows have been awfully low, though, which would be hard to risk in a postseason race. There’s no denying Pearson’s upside, but it’s an uphill battle.

RHP Alek Manoah -- Manoah was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 11, but he has only just now joined the Bisons, manager John Schneider said on Thursday in Baltimore. Manoah was undergoing some physical tests in Toronto, which added to this very unusual delay. Once the right-hander gets rolling in Triple-A, it's still difficult to see a spot for him in September unless the Blue Jays need a sixth starter. A bullpen role doesn't make much sense for the 2023 Opening Day starter, given the club’s existing relief options.

Position players
OF Nathan Lukes -- In terms of straight depth, having Lukes up as another layer in the outfield makes some sense. He’s bounced up and down plenty -- rarely playing while with the Blue Jays -- but having Lukes around would add some flexibility to Schneider’s bench. Much of the same could be said for infielder Ernie Clement.

1B Spencer Horwitz -- A club trying to make a postseason run cannot ignore a left-handed bat who has hit .366 with a .468 on-base percentage since being optioned back to Triple-A (44 games). There would be no regular playing time available unless an injury hit, but Horwitz, the club's No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is the best option from Triple-A Buffalo if you look at strict production.

3B/RF Addison Barger -- An MLB debut here would be aggressive and feels unlikely, but Barger has put himself in the conversation. Going back to July 1, the Blue Jays’ No. 5 prospect, is batting .276 with an .865 OPS, shaking off his slow start and an elbow injury earlier this season. Barger has been playing much more right field, too, which makes him an interesting option.

C Tyler Heineman -- You can never count out the potential of a third catcher, even on a club with Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk. Adding Heineman would give the Blue Jays a security blanket behind the plate and allow them to use Jansen as a DH on his off-days or Kirk as a late-game pinch-hitter, which they’ve shown a tendency to do. This isn’t the likeliest course of action, but it’s one the Blue Jays could work with.