Blue Jays takeaways: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. health update, new rotation plans, more
With a win, the Jays would've broken their 2024 win total with more than five weeks left in the season. Instead, they sit at 74-54. Here are three takeaways from Toronto's set in Pittsburgh, including new rotation plans and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring health.
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A week after the Jays optioned Joey Loperfido despite the outfielder hitting over .350, manager John Schneider faced another tough decision — how to navigate the starting rotation with the return of Shane Bieber. Instead of moving to a six-man rotation, the Jays chose to bump a starter to the bullpen. The casualty will be Eric Lauer, for now.
With Bieber set to debut Friday in Miami, Lauer joins the bullpen for the weekend, Schneider said. It is not a permanent move to the bullpen and Lauer will stay stretched out by making 'pretty traditional' outings in the near future, Schneider said. But with the other five starters owning All-Star resumes and a combined 59 years of big league experience, Lauer is the odd man out in the short term.
'I think it was just looking at everyone's total body of work,' Schneider said. 'And who can be kind of the most flexible.'
Lauer started his 2025 campaign as a swingman, which certainly factored into the decision. But he's been arguably the Jays' best starter. He owns the lowest ERA of Toronto's starting group (2.76) and they've won 11 of his 14 starts. Though Lauer will sit in the bullpen for three games against the Marlins, it's likely not the end of his season as a starter. The situation will remain fluid.
'I'm still treating it as a start,' Lauer said. 'Because I'm available for length, kind of like I was before, the same kind of deal. But then, I believe, next time through, I should be right back in the rotation. I believe that's kind of the plan.'
In a move likely made to make room for Bieber on the 26-man roster, the Jays optioned Braydon Fisher to Triple A after Wednesday's contest.
Addison Barger smiled out to right field, wiping his mouth against the sleeve of his blue jersey before digging back into the box. Normally, he would've sat on a different pitch. He'd just hammered a screaming liner down the line, a few feet foul. He was early on Paul Skenes' seventh consecutive fastball.
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For any other pitcher, Barger would've adjusted, waiting for the inevitable off-speed pitch that followed his early swing. But not with Skenes. The Pirates ace was sticking with one pitch.
'Typically,' Barger said. 'When I foul a fastball off like that, I'm usually selling out for off-speed the next pitch. But with him, I just can't.'
When the eighth 98 mph fastball came down the middle of the plate, Barger was ready. He dropped his front foot and drilled it to the wall, fair. The 115.8 mph single was the hardest hit Skenes has allowed in his 49 big league starts. It was the second-hardest piece of contact Barger's made in his career.
'That was power against power,' Schneider said.
As Barger's breakout put him on the map, other teams adjusted. They threw the lefty 39 percent breaking balls in June and upped off-speed offerings in recent months. Barger has, mostly, survived the adjustments, though his season OPS fell to .804 after peaking at .853 in early July.
The one area sustaining Barger's success is an improving ability to punish fastballs, like Skenes'. In April, Barger hit just .167 off fastballs. He upped it to .264 in May and it's been above .260 ever since. Even as opposing pitchers challenge Barger with new pitches, his ability to hammer fastballs will keep his power threat in Toronto's lineup.
After leaving Monday's game with left hamstring tightness, Guerrero sat out the remainder of Toronto's series in Pittsburgh. An MRI on Monday night revealed inflammation. The franchise first baseman felt better on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the Jays wanted to 'take advantage' of an upcoming off day ahead of the Miami series, Schneider said, giving Guerrero additional rest.
The Jays aren't portraying significant concern over Guerrero's ailment. But the real test will come on Friday. If he returns to the lineup against the Marlins, fear of any significant absence can fade away.
(Photo of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. working out this week: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
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