Blue Jays option Paxton Schultz, recall Justin Bruihl

This isn’t the only bullpen move in recent times, as the Blue Jays optioned Mason Fluharty to call up Schultz before Sunday’s loss to the Miami Marlins. The bullpen has been used a lot lately, especially after a 12-inning marathon on Saturday.

Schultz pitched just one inning with the Blue Jays in this stint, hurling one scoreless inning with a strikeout. For the season, the 27-year-old now has a 4.38 ERA and 4.05 FIP in 24.2 innings pitched, with a 25.5 K% and 7.3 BB%.

Bruihl has had a rough go of things this season, posting a 6.48 ERA and 6.11 FIP in 8.1 innings pitched, coming out of the bullpen for all 11 of his appearances. The 28-year-old has a career-high 25 K% at this time, but his walk rate has ballooned to 13.6%. Bruihl’s ERA is inflated due to his last two outings, but before those games, he had a 2.57 ERA and 4.26 FIP in seven innings pitched. Hopefully, the Jays get that kind of Bruihl in this stint.

On September 1st, the rosters expand to 28 players, meaning the Jays can add one more reliever. Unfortunately, neither Braydon Fisher nor Fluharty can be called up the day of, unless there is an injury, as pitchers must spend 15 days in the minor leagues after being optioned. Fisher can’t be recalled until September 4th, and Fluharty can’t be recalled until September 8th.

The good news is that the Jays only used two pitchers in Sunday’s game: Yariel Rodríguez and Schultz. Rodríguez threw 24 pitches and is likely down for Monday’s game, but Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland, Brendon Little, and Tommy Nance should all be good to go.

That’s even if they’re needed, as Max Scherzer has pitched six or more innings in his last five games, authoring a 2.25 ERA and 3.74 FIP in that stretch.