Lauer’s rough latest outing against Minnesota saw seven earned runs in 5.1 innings, inflating his season ERA to 7.82. He also allowed two home runs and walked five in the 7-4 defeat, contributing to a string of struggles.
Toronto has dropped four of its last five games and sits at 7-11 for the season, tied for last in the AL East. The club did win an extra-innings game to begin the current series with Milwaukee before dropping the next two.
Lauer has been used in a bullpen role this season after injuries to several pitchers opened the door for him. He went 1-2 overall, including a delayed start against the White Sox when illness pushed his appearance back, and he has been working to find his footing in a longer relief/spot-start mix.
Fisher, who posted a strong 2.70 ERA over 50 innings in 2025 as a reliever, will make his first 2026 start in this game. The opener plan would mask him from Arizona’s top hitters initially, with Lauer potentially entering to face the lower portion of the Diamondbacks’ order.
If Lauer does come in, the expectation is for him to pitch in relief behind Fisher and to provide Toronto with a quicker path to managing matchup advantages against Arizona’s lineup.
This lineup decision reflects Toronto’s ongoing strategy to optimize its pitching staff amid injuries and fluctuating roles, as it seeks to stabilize the rotation while maximizing its bullpen depth.
