The Toronto Blue Jays made a couple of roster moves yesterday, highlighted by Eric Lauer being designated for assignment.

The left-hander was a key part of the 2025 roster given his flexibility between the rotation and bullpen, but struggled to find that success in 2026. Lauer battled an illness through his first two outings that limited his ability on the mound, but the veteran arm wasn’t able to shake off the rust in his latter starts, and the club ended up using an opener during his outings to get through.

With Lauer now out of the picture and the injury bug still running rampant amongst the starter options in the minors, the Jays will need to find a solution for the fifth spot in the rotation. There is a chance the Jays find that solution outside the organization, but there are a few different arms that could be allowed to run with a few starts before an arm like Shane Bieber or Jose Berrios is ready to go.

Spencer Miles has been a breath of fresh air in the Jays’ bullpen this season. Injuries derailed his pro career in the Giants system, and many were unsure if Miles could make the jump to the big leagues as a Rule 5 Draft pick with this limited experience. So far, Miles has passed every test so far.

Through 12 outings and 21 innings, Miles owns a 3.00 ERA and a 3.36 FIP to the tune of a 1.095 WHIP. He’s kept the walks in check (2.1 BB/9) while striking out 18 batters, amassing a 7.7 K/9. He’s been a bulk reliever for the Jays this season, saving the day on numerous occasions, and worked as a starter yesterday through three innings.

Miles has the proper ‘I will do anything the Jays ask me to’ mentality and has expressed an interest in starting. It’s just difficult to see the Jays turn to him in a starting role when he hasn’t thrown more than 43 pitches in an outing this year, plus the limited pro experience over the years. He has great stuff, but it might be more suited for that long-man role in the bullpen unless the Jays decide to put Miles with another bulk arm to eat up six to seven innings.

The Blue Jays signed Josh Fleming to a minor league deal this past winter, and the club called on him early in the campaign when the injuries started piling up for Toronto. He went three innings for Toronto against the Dodgers on April 6th, allowing six hits and four earned runs with a home run through three much-needed innings.

Toronto would DFA him shortly after as they needed another arm in the big leagues, and he eventually rejoined the Jays on another MiLB deal and has been in Buffalo since. For the year (he made one start before joining Toronto), Fleming owns a 2.49 ERA across six outings (five starts) and 25 1/3 innings. Fleming doesn’t strike out a ton of batters (18) but keeps the walks in check (1.78 BB/9) and eats up innings.

Fleming did struggle during his outing against a top team in the big leagues, but there is a chance the Jays go back to the well to get a spot start or two out of the southpaw. The Jays will need to find a 40-man roster spot and an active roster spot for the left-hander (as well as the two names below), but a decision will need to be made if the Jays want another dedicated fifth starter.

CJ Van Eyk has found his groove back.

The Jays second round pick in 2020 has been marching his way up the farm system and landed in Triple-A Buffalo last year to mixed results. Across 20 outings and 89 1/3 innings, the right-hander posted a 4.94 ERA with 40 walks, 73 strikeouts, and a 1.522 WHIP.

Van Eyk returned to Buffalo for the 2026 season and has found much better results. He owns a 1-1 record through seven starts, amassing a 3.13 ERA and a 3.58 FIP through 31 2/3 innings. If there is one drawback to Van Eyk’s 2026 season, it’s the amount of contact he has allowed this season. The 27-year-old owns a 9.7 H/9 and a 1.484 WHIP this year, which hasn’t come back to bite him, considering the 11 earned runs against. Of his seven outings, he’s allowed two runs or fewer in all but one of them and boasts two shutout starts, one of which was a six-inning, two-hit affair.

Similar to Fleming, Van Eyk will need a 40-man roster, but manager John Schneider mentioned Van Eyk and the next pitcher by name yesterday as possible internal options to take that fifth spot in the rotation.

Chad Dallas returns to the mound after missing part of the 2024 campaign and all of the 2025 season with Tommy John surgery, and the right-hander is pitching well in Buffalo.

Through seven outings (six games) and 25 innings, Dallas owns a 3.60 ERA and an impressive 2.47 FIP with a 1.280 WHIP. He has kept the walks in check (3.2 BB/9) while striking opponents out at a 9.7 K/9 clip and generating a 1.38 GB/FB rate. Dallas has some similar issues to Van Eyk in terms of hits against (8.3 H/9), but the right-hander hasn’t allowed a home run all season long while limiting the damage to just 10 runs against.

Dallas might have a disadvantage compared to Van Eyk, considering he is just coming back from injury and hasn’t pitched past 4 2/3 innings this season. If the Blue Jays wanted to explore a two-arm approach with Miles, then Dallas could be the arm to double up to make it happen if the Jays find a 40-man roster spot for the Tennessee alum.

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