Eric Lauer is no longer scheduled to start Friday’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, per the Toronto Blue Jays’ announcement, as relayed by Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling. 

In Lauer’s place, right-handed reliever Braydon Fisher will make his first start of the season as an opener, the second of his career, Friday night at Chase Field. The 25-year-old hurler has allowed just one earned run over 9.2 innings this season, issuing 12 strikeouts and only one walk.

The decision to remove Lauer as the projected starter remains unclear. However, the veteran southpaw will now presumably enter out of the bullpen as the bulk-inning pitcher during the club’s series opener in Arizona.

Lauer has been battling the flu over the past few weeks, which has severely compromised his recent performance, enduring an abbreviated two-inning start against the Chicago White Sox on April 5 and struggling over 5.1 innings in his most recent start versus the Minnesota Twins last Saturday, allowing seven runs (all earned) on five hits and five walks apiece — the second-most free passes he’s ever surrendered in his career.

This move will now allow the 30-year-old starter to skip the Diamondbacks’ top hitters — namely Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll — in the first inning, meaning he’ll likely only face them once or twice — avoiding the dreaded three-time-through matchups.

Fisher covered an inning and a third during last season’s lone opener start against the Athletics on May 31. But the results weren’t all that flattering, as he was tagged for five runs (all earned) on four hits — including two home runs — and one walk while only striking out one of the nine batters he faced.

Given how dependable he’s been early on this season, the hope is that he can deliver a much-improved performance during his second attempt in the opener role.

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