4 internal candidates to replace Eric Lauer in the Blue Jays rotation

"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."

"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 Mile"

Eric Lauer was designated for assignment after struggling to regain form in 2026. He had been a flexible piece for the 2025 roster, but illness limited his early outings and rust affected later starts, leading the team to use an opener to get through his appearances. With Lauer removed and injuries affecting minor-league starter options, the Blue Jays must fill the fifth rotation spot. The team could look externally, or try internal arms for a few starts while waiting for Shane Bieber or Jose Berrios to be ready. Spencer Miles has performed well in the bullpen, posting strong run prevention and control metrics, and even worked as a starter for three innings, though his limited pitch counts and pro experience make a long-term starting role uncertain.

Read at BlueJaysNation