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Spencer Miles among options Blue Jays are considering for vacant fifth starter’s job
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
May 12, 2026, 16:00 EDTUpdated: May 12, 2026, 15:57 EDT
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TORONTO — For much of this season, the Blue Jays’ fifth starter’s job has been a revolving door that won’t stop spinning, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down — let alone stopping altogether — any time soon.
In the most recent version of this injury-shortened rotation, that final starting role belonged to Eric Lauer, who, after struggling to a 6.69 ERA and 6.2 per cent strikeout-minus-walk rate in eight appearances (six starts) this season, was designated for assignment by the organization on Monday.
The roster move came as a bit of a shock, not because of what’s transpired in 2026 thus far, but due to the significant role Lauer played for this team a season ago. He essentially served as the rotation’s saviour, heralded as one of the franchise’s most valuable players. Without him pitching his way up from Triple-A Buffalo, chances are this team would have endured a second straight playoff-less October last fall.
Now, the veteran southpaw is on his way out, likely headed to another organization either via trade or waiver claim.
“It’s unfortunate to lose a great guy, great pitcher, after what he did last year for us. I don’t think we get to where we were last year without him,” said Kevin Gausman, who allowed season-highs in earned runs (six) and hits (10) while reaching the 2,000-strikeout mark on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Blue Jays ultimately decided that a change was needed, necessitating another tough conversation amidst the team’s tough start across the first quarter of the 2026 campaign. They were at a crossroads with Lauer. He had struggled in a traditional starting role, pitching to an inflated 6.15 ERA and 6.69 FIP in six starts, and also expressed his displeasure about working behind an opener.
But Lauer was the bulk guy in what proved to be his final appearance as a Blue Jay against the Los Angeles Angels last Sunday. After Spencer Miles opened and Tommy Nance pitched an inning, with the two combining for four scoreless frames, Lauer covered the final five innings of the contest — only to surrender six runs (all earned) on five hits — including three home runs — on two walks and four strikeouts.
That’s seemingly when it became clear they were better off without him moving forward.
After parting ways with Lauer, the Blue Jays are now left without a starter for Saturday’s contest versus the Detroit Tigers, and that vacated rotation spot is due to come around again next Thursday in the Bronx. At the moment, the team is still evaluating its options before announcing who’ll receive the nod for that start at Comerica Park this weekend.
“It’s the next guy up,” Gausman said. “Luckily we have I think some guys down in Triple-A that [could start].”
Toronto’s longtime ace, in particular, mentioned Miles as someone he feels could also make that start against the struggling Tigers. And he’s certainly put together a strong resume thus far, posting a 3.00 ERA and 3.36 FIP in 21.0 innings as a rookie, issuing a 15.1 per cent K-BB% in 12 appearances.
The 25-year-old’s latest outing versus the Angels further intensified the conversation around stretching him out as a starter to help fill the current void in the rotation. However, as much as the club is keeping that avenue open, they’re also staying mindful of his past injury history, which had previously limited the Rule 5 selection to fewer than 15 career innings in pro ball entering this year.
“We like the stuff, we like the demeanour, and he’s handled himself really well,” Schneider said of Miles through the first six weeks of his inaugural major-league campaign.
“I think that we can try to, as much as we can, push the envelope forward without — the risk of him dealing with his first major league season, first season [of any kind] in a while — kind of putting him in harm’s way.”
Prior to this season, Miles had never thrown more than 7.1 innings in a single baseball calendar year, and now he’s up to almost three times that many in his rookie campaign with the Blue Jays. Setting a high bar on his workload right now is just asking for more injury trouble — of which they’ve already endured enough as is.
Still, talent is tough to ignore, and Miles certainly has plenty of it. Between his high-velocity sinker and four-seamer, paired with his slider and curveball, he’s been incredibly tough to create hard contact against — sitting in the 80th percentile or higher in average exit velocity (84.7 m.p.h.), hard-hit rate (30.2 per cent) and barrel rate against (4.8 per cent) in ’26.
As a former minor-league starter, one of the best traits of the young right-hander’s arsenal is that it includes multiple out pitches, allowing him to adjust his game plan depending on the situation.
“He has good stuff, the ball’s pretty heavy, comes out good, and he always seems like he wants to compete and just kind of come right after you as a hitter,” catcher Tyler Heineman said of Miles. “And I think that’s a dangerous combination.”
Whether it’s facing a future Hall-of-Fame slugger like Mike Trout or a window of talented left-handed batters, Miles is learning a lot about himself and what it takes to remain in the majors as a versatile pitcher, who’s capable and willing to operate in any situation that’s needed.
“I think he’s starting to get a taste for what being a big leaguer is all about, and trying to excel at this level,” said Heineman. “So it’s constantly going to be him having to adjust with what the game tells him and what hitters are telling him. And that’s part of our jobs as catchers, and then [the] coaching staff as well, to recognize that early and try and steer him in the right direction.”
The most immediate solution for that fifth starter’s job might be using Miles as the bulk arm as part of another bullpen day, though that still doesn’t present a long-term fix. At the same time, he currently offers their best option for providing dependability, even if it’s only across three or four innings.
Other internal alternatives exist, such as Chad Dallas or CJ Van Eyk down at Triple-A Buffalo, both of whom Schneider mentioned as potential call-up options worth considering. It’s worth noting that they’d each need to first be placed on the 40-man roster, which currently stands at 39 players.
The Blue Jays are also canvassing the external market for pitching relief, with Toronto’s manager stating, “I know that [GM Ross Atkins] and everyone are kind of crossing every bridge they can to kind of figure that out.” Perhaps they can find another Patrick Corbin, who’s settled in extremely well after signing a one-year, $1 million deal, carrying a 2.77 ERA and 3.39 FIP over his last five starts into Tuesday’s matchup versus the Rays.
But the free-agent market is even more bare since the franchise signed Corbin in early April. So, barring a low-cost trade or a lightning-in-the-bottle waiver claim, they may have to piece this thing together from within until Shane Bieber or Max Scherzer returns.

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