Should the 2026 Blue Jays Extend Their Rookie Reliever to a Starting Position?
In December 2025, the Blue Jays picked up Spencer Miles from the San Francisco Giants in the Rule 5 Draft. The righty made his Major League debut on March 28th as a reliever and has become a significant part of the bullpen since. On July 7th, he got his third outright start of the year, and it was against his former team. With Toronto having to overcome so many pitching injuries this year, having a reliever like Miles that can go multiple innings is crucial. On Tuesday, the rookie and recent bullpen addition, Patrick Corbin, pitched six and one-third innings total for a bullpen start win.
Toronto's Rotation Continues to Battle Injuries and Inconsistency
The Jays' starting rotation currently includes Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and Shane Bieber. Corbin signed a one-year contract early in the season to compensate for injuries to starting pitchers, but after a few rough starts, he was moved to the bullpen, where he is thriving. Max Scherzer was also in the rotation this year but, after dealing with multiple injuries, is back on the IL for the third time since Spring Training. Lastly, Eric Lauer was a piece of the puzzle early in the season but has since been DFA’d and signed by the Dodgers. As for the current starters, Cease just earned a well-deserved all-star spot, but Yesavage has been struggling with walks since his return from the IL in late April, Gausman has recorded five losses in his last seven games, and Bieber, having just returned from the IL on June 23rd, currently has a 9.00 ERA.
Can Spencer Miles Handle an Expanded Workload?
Noticeably, the Blue Jays need all the help they can get, but should that help come from Miles? The 25-year-old was drafted by the Giants in 2022 but never debuted with them because he received both Tommy John and back surgery. Out of the 25 games he has pitched in this year, there have only been five where the rookie has gone one inning or less. The righty’s record number this year is four and one-third, which he has done three times. In his last start, he pitched exactly four innings, recording one strikeout, no walks, two earned runs, and seven hits, resulting in a 2.95 ERA. The Blue Jays rookie improves every time he takes the mound, but with Toronto’s injury curse this year, should they really push their luck?
Trade Deadline Could Hold the Answer
With the trade deadline coming up, last year’s World Series runners-up should be looking for at least one starting pitcher to take the strain off their rookie and the rest of the bullpen. Despite their 43-49 record, the rest of the American League also being a mess means that the Blue Jays are still in the running for a playoff spot. Only six of 15 teams have a .500 or above, with the highest being .600. That stat belongs to Toronto’s division rival, the Tampa Bay Rays, and their 54-36 record. With the 2026 season just past the halfway point, the Jays still hold on to playoff hopes, but to keep that, they need to turn things around and fast. Starting pitching isn’t their only problem, but it is a significant one. While stretching Miles out to the six or seven innings expected of a starter may not be the smartest idea due to his injury history, what other choice does Canada’s team have?
