The Toronto Blue Jays have Shane Bieber pitching in his first game on Friday against the Miami Marlins and the team announced which pitcher will be heading to the bullpen now that he is in the rotation.
Blue Jays will have Eric Lauer coming out of the bullpen as Shane Bieber returns
Manager John Schneider told reporters this morning that he with Bieber entering the starting rotation on Friday, the team will have Eric Lauer coming out of the bullpen for that series.
However, Schneider did add that this is not a permanent situation and it seems like it will be a situation that might change week to week but for right now it will be Lauer.
News: Eric Lauer will be available out of the #BlueJays' bullpen this weekend.
«This is not a [permanent] move to the bullpen,» John Schneider reiterated.
This sounds like a flexible situation that could change week to week, but Lauer gets the first bump.
The reason this move is so surprising is that Lauer has been terrific for the Blue Jays this season as he currently has an 8-2 record with a 2.76 ERA in 88 innings pitched with 87 strikeouts.
Heading into the playoffs, the Blue Jays would benefit from having Lauer in their starting rotation over Berrios.