Blue Jays turning to six-man rotation to accommodate trade-deadline additions
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Photo credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Aug 4, 2026, 20:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 4, 2026, 19:59 EDT
Suddenly, the Toronto Blue Jays have more healthy starters than rotation spots available following Monday’s trade deadline. So, they’re planning to invoke a six-man staff for the time being, manager John Schneider told reporters in Houston on Tuesday.
This means newly acquired right-hander Jameson Taillon will make his Blue Jays debut in Wednesday’s series finale versus the Astros, according to Schneider, as relayed by MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson.
Dylan Cease, previously lined up to start Wednesday, has been pushed to Thursday’s make-up game against the Chicago Cubs. As a result, José Soriano will make his respective debut in Philadelphia on Friday, opening a three-game series versus the Phillies.
Turning to a six-man rotation will prevent the Blue Jays from having to bump one of their starters to the bullpen in a multi-inning role, which likely would’ve been Taillon, based on his poor results before being designated for assignment and later traded by the Cubs.
Schneider said the tentative plan is to roll at least once through the rotation with six starters. But they could stick with it for the next few weeks, considering they’re in the midst of a 17-game stretch until their next off-day on August 17.
With three days off through the rest of the month, one each week, Toronto will likely shift back to a traditional five-man unit at that point, if they don’t before then. The most logical option would involve sending Taillon — who’ll enter Wednesday’s outing with a 5.92 ERA and 6.73 FIP in 15 starts this season — to the ‘pen. But an injury could serve as another option by then, as well.
This is a dilemma that many assumed the organization would face out of spring training. However, following injuries to José Berríos, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and eventually Cody Ponce, their starting pitching depth quickly evaporated by the first week of April.

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