Blue Jays Make Pitching Decision After Win Over Athletics

The 26-year-old last pitched Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, throwing only 10 pitches. That limited workload gives Schneider an opportunity to use Fisher for the opening innings before turning to a bulk option such as Michael Lorenzen.

Toronto also benefits from having Thursday off, allowing the club to reset its pitching staff before a pivotal weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Athletics are using a similar approach, with left-hander Brady Basso expected to start. Basso has made four starts among his 22 appearances this season and owns a 4.32 ERA.

The Blue Jays entered Wednesday 72-72 and just a half-game behind the final American League Wild Card spot. They have also won seven of their last 10 games, making every remaining matchup increasingly important.

Schneider’s decision is less about finding a conventional starter and more about managing the entire pitching staff. Fisher can give Toronto a clean opening while preserving its primary arms for the games that follow.

With Baltimore waiting this weekend and the postseason race tightening, the Blue Jays cannot afford to burn their best pitching unnecessarily. Wednesday’s bullpen game is a calculated attempt to balance the immediate matchup with the bigger September picture.