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Braydon Fisher set to open as Blue Jays look to reverse fortunes Vs. Rays
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jul 22, 2026, 10:51 EDT
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In desperate need of a win, the Toronto Blue Jays are turning to Braydon Fisher as an opener on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. 
For the season, Fisher has worked in 47 games and is 3-3 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. The right-hander has thrown 49.1 innings and has struck out 50 batters during that time, but he has fallen on hard times as of late, highlighted by a 6.00 ERA over his past 15 appearances. However, the Blue Jays are hopeful that the results he’s displayed as an opener will continue tonight. 
The 25-year-old has been tasked with opening six times this season, and the Blue Jays have gone 5-1 in those games, defeating the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets. 
Over those six outings, Fisher has thrown 6.2 innings and has allowed no runs on three hits, five walks, and has struck out eight batters. Getting off to a strong start will be key for the Blue Jays as the Rays have opened the scoring in the first two games of the series and have put the club in early holes that the offence has struggled to overcome. 
The Rays have opened the first two games of the series with the same top four in their lineup. The first four have been Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, and Cedric Mullins, and they have combined to do damage against the Blue Jays’ pitching staff. 
To open the series, the top four have gone 15-for-40, good for a .375 average with two home runs, eight RBIs and eight runs scored. While other Rays have chipped in, the real threats come within the top half of their lineup, giving Fisher a tough task in what will be his seventh time opening this year. 
While it is yet to be seen when Spencer Miles will enter on Wednesday, the move allows him to work out of the bullpen, a place where he has found more success this season. As a reliever, Miles has pitched in 23 games and has a 2.39 ERA, compared to his four starts, in which Miles has tossed 15 innings and turned in an ERA of 7.20. 
While Miles’ future may be in the rotation, to this point in his young MLB career, his greatest success has come working in a relief/bulk role. For the season, the Rule 5 Draft pick has pitched in 27 games and is 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. The 25-year-old has thrown 64 innings and has struck out 61 batters in that span, good for a 23.4 strikeout percentage. 
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