Spencer Miles pitches well in no-decision

The Jays weren’t going to use Louis Varland or Tyler Rogers tonight, but that posed no problem, as Chase Lee, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher and Miles combined to pitch four scoreless innings in relief. Miles, getting his first chance to close, pitched for the third time in four days. Because of concerns about his workload, it looks like the Jays are going to let him finish out his rookie season as a short reliever instead of considering him as a rotation replacement for Trey Yesavage or Jameson Taillon.

Miles is a Rule 5 pick who has put together a solid season for the Blue Jays this year with a 3.26 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 66/19 K/BB ratio in 69 innings across 29 appearances (four starts). The Blue Jays have used him as a bulk reliever, but he has allowed 14 runs on 20 hits in 14 innings across four starts as a traditional starter. If another team sees Miles as a potential starting pitcher who has not yet even reached his arbitration years, a deal could come together.

The original plan was for Scherzer to make another rehab start, but he lobbied to return early. With Scherzer back, Spencer Miles will head to the pen for now, though that could be temporary. Scherzer doesn’t seem like a mixed-league option at this point.

Scherzer threw a bullpen session Friday. He pitched five scoreless innings for Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, but since that took him only 56 pitches, the thinking was that he’d make one more rehab start. If he’s activated, it would likely be to face the Nationals on Monday. Spencer Miles would be put back in middle relief, but that might be very temporary with the Blue Jays seemingly in line to sell at the deadline.

After retiring the side in order in the first inning, Miles got knocked around by the White Sox in the second inning. Three straight hits to start the inning, followed by a fielder’s choice by Braden Montgomery that drove in Andrew Benintendi, put the White Sox up 2-0, and a two-run homer by Sam Antonacci a few batters later extended their lead to 5-0. It was only the fourth start of the season for Miles, who got the nod as the opener coming out of the All-Star break, but this was his worst outing of the season regardless of when he entered the game. He’ll likely be moved back to the bullpen rather than start another game next week.

Miles will get his third start of the season after tossing three shutout innings Wednesday against the Metts. The 25-year-old will likely go no more than five innings in the outing, and there would be just as much risk as there is reward in using him as a streamer in that contest.

Miles was very impressive here despite only going three innings on 46 pitches. Both his fastball and sinker sat between 97 and 98 mph and the latter flashed some impressive movement. His curveball flashed too and he was willing to throw it against hitters from both sides of the plate. There was enough here to make us think about adding him in very deep leagues. Otherwise, Patrick Corbin followed him as more of a bulk reliever going five innings, allowing three runs, and earning the save. With a 5.11 ERA, he should not be on our radar.

Schneider told reporters it’ll likely be rookie Spencer Miles getting the ball for a bullpen game in place of Corbin, who was originally scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets. The 36-year-old veteran has pitched to a cromulent 5.09 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 52/24 K/BB ratio across 69 innings over 15 starts this season. His rotation spot will likely go to Max Scherzer (back) once he’s ready to come off the injured list in a few weeks.

Schneider also added that Max Scherzer (forearm) will be activated to start Wednesday’s series finale at the Rogers Centre with Trey Yesavage being pushed back to Friday’s showdown against the Yankees. The influx of veteran reinforcements also pushes rookie standout Spencer Miles back to a long relief role. It’s a stunning turn of events that Toronto has a legitimate five-man rotation again after piecing things together for most of the last two months. Cease threw 75 pitches in his final rehab outing and shouldn’t have any limitations in his return from the injured list.

Miles entered after Braydon Fisher’s scoreless first and allowed just two hits into the sixth inning. He departed with one on and one out in that frame, and Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer off Jeff Hoffman to get Miles charged with a second run. Miles moved to 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA, which is incredible for a Rule 5 pick whose professional experience had consisted of 10 1/3 innings in the Complex League and 4 1/3 innings in Low-A ball coming into the year. He’s probably going back to the bullpen now with the Jays getting veterans back and also having two days off coming up.