Veteran pitcher could get squeezed off postseason roster

The Blue Jays left-hander has gone 8-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 15 starts this season and still might be left off the playoff roster when the time comes.

Since the acquisition of of Cy Young winner Shane Bieber at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays have six starting pitchers.

A six-man rotation can only work for so long and Lauer, through no fault of his own, was transitioned back to the bullpen.

Given that Toronto won't need a full five man rotation come the postseason, it's likely that one starter - perhaps two - will move to the bullpen for the ALDS, acting as long man and squeezing Lauer off the roster.

It's not his fault of course. Anytime you go 8-2, you deserve to be in the conversation. But the postseason is a different animal where the normal rules of the game don't apply.

With Kevin Gausman, Bieber, and one (possibly two) of Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer in the rotation and the other in the bullpen, Lauer is a valuable asset without a position.

There is always a guy like Lauer on every team. In the past for the Blue Jays, it has been a Ross Stripling or Marco Estrada that has filled the hybrid role.

Still, it has to be gut-wrenching for Lauer knowing he did everything right and still might not have a spot.

Still Lauer should take solace in knowing that he helped get the Blue Jays to where they are today: atop the most competitive division in baseball.