John Schneider is turning to a bullpen game today, announcing Braydon Fisher will open for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Spencer Miles following in a bulk role.
Fisher has carried a real workload out of that bullpen all season, posting a 3.65 ERA across 47 appearances with 50 strikeouts over 49.1 innings.
Using him as an opener is a real departure from his usual relief role, but his strikeout numbers and general reliability make him a reasonable choice to face the top of Tampa Bay's order first.
Miles picks up right after, and he's been just as steady, sitting at a 3.52 ERA with 61 strikeouts across 64 innings this season in a swing role that's bounced between starting and bulk relief work all year.
That combination gives Toronto two of its more consistent arms tackling this game together, rather than leaning on a traditional single starter.
Bullpen games like this one often reflect a roster trying to manage workload or matchups more carefully, especially with the trade deadline just days away and roster decisions looming.
Toronto sits at 46-54, last in the American League East, riding a two-game losing streak that's made every pitching decision draw a little extra scrutiny.
Why this approach makes sense given Toronto's situation
Pairing Fisher and Miles together gives Schneider two arms with legitimate strikeout stuff, an approach that can neutralize a dangerous top of the order before turning things over to the rest of the bullpen.
It's a strategy more teams have leaned on in recent years, especially when traditional rotation options are shorter on rest or performance confidence.
It's a bit like splitting a long shift between two reliable employees instead of asking one person to carry the entire day alone.
Does this bullpen game approach actually give Toronto a better shot today, or does it simply reflect how thin this rotation has become with the deadline fast approaching?
Fisher gets the ball first this afternoon, and how he handles Tampa Bay's lineup early will set the tone for how deep Miles needs to go behind him.
Toronto will need a real team effort today, both on the mound and at the plate, to snap this losing streak before the Rays close out this series.
Do you like the Blue Jays using a bullpen game with Braydon Fisher and Spencer Miles today?
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