Shane Bieber, José Berríos and Kevin Gausman will start the three games in Miami, with a left-handed option available from the bullpen. Trevor Lauer will be in the bullpen for that series as a temporary measure and remains a candidate for future starts. The rotation recently featured Berríos, Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer and Lauer, with Bieber added at the trade deadline while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. A six-man rotation was considered but not implemented. The upcoming schedule with multiple off-days influenced the decision and raised concerns about extra rest versus potential rust.
Though Lauer will be in the 'pen this weekend, Schneider emphasized that it will be a temporary move. "This is not a move to the bullpen," the skipper said. "It's kind of an evolving thing as we go." He continued: "It's going to be a fluid situation. For that series he'll be available out of the pen. It definitely doesn't take him out of starting contention going forward."
For the past few months, the Jays have had a stable rotation of Berríos, Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer and Lauer. That gave the club a pretty solid group for the regular season but they decided to chase upside for their playoff rotation by grabbing Bieber, a former Cy Young winner, from the Guardians at the deadline. At the time of the deal, Bieber was still rehabbing from last year's Tommy John surgery.
The Jays are off tomorrow and next Thursday as well, meaning they only play six times in the next eight days. After that, they play six more before another off-day September 4th, then three more before yet another off-day September 8th. Put together, that's 15 games in 19 days. Going to a six-man rotation would mean each guy only throwing about once a week, or sometimes less. That could give the starters extra rest but perhaps also extra rust.
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