3 Blue Jays pitchers who really need to step up with Shane Bieber on the IL

On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays were hit with the injury bug once again as Shane Bieber was placed on the 15-day IL with right teres major inflammation in his shoulder. That was a severe blow to the Blue Jays as Bieber had been pitching well of late, allowing just one earned run in three of his past four starts while registering at least 5.2 innings of work in each start, going 3-0 with one no-decision in the process.

Now with the 31-year-old former Cy Young winner down for at least a fair chunk of the remainder of the season, the Blue Jays will need some of their pitchers to really step up their game down the stretch. For Toronto to have any chance to make the postseason, someone will need to catch fire. Here, are three candidates that will be relied upon to get the job done.

Which Blue Jays pitchers need to play a bigger role down the stretch to help give Toronto a chance at winning success?

Max Scherzer

Finishing off the season in the bullpen was a realistic option at one point in time for Max Scherzer. But a glut of injuries has suddenly made him a vital part of their rotation heading into the final month of the season. He may have struggled big time with inconsistencies and injuries for the bulk of his 2026 campaign, but the Blue Jays really need his veteran presence to help stabilize their starting five as they fight for a playoff spot.

Scherzer has actually been heading in that direction already, having given up just two earned runs or less in five of his six starts since coming off the IL in July. The Blue Jays will need more of that consistency in the stretch run, and likely some wins will come for Scherzer and the Jays if he manages to continue to do his part.

Spencer Arrighetti

Another piece of the puzzle that most thought would serve as a rotation depth piece for the Blue Jays for the final few weeks of the 2026 season, Spencer Arrighetti will now find himself in the spotlight. Coming over to Toronto in the trade of outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Houston Astros, Arrighetti made his debut with the Blue Jays last week in a game against the New York Yankees. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed three runs in over three innings of work as he was working his way back from injury as well.

On the season, Arrighetti has compiled a 7-6 record with a 4.73 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, together with averaging a strikeout per inning in 17 starts with the Astros and Blue Jays combined. As the perfect back end of the rotation piece, Toronto will need the right-hander to give them innings along with grinding out a few wins down the stretch to help keep the Blue Jays in the playoff picture.

Simeon Woods Richardson (and company)

Finally, what was thought to be just a reclamation project for Toronto to work on earlier this season, Simeon Woods Richardson might become a vital component of the Blue Jays pitching staff as they push for the postseason. Acquired from the Minnesota Twins back in early June, Woods Richardson has been a renaissance for the Blue Jays in the capacity of a reliever. In seven appearances, the 25-year-old right-hander has posted a 2-0 record with a sparkling 1.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, along with 13 strikeouts in 17.1 total innings pitched.

But because Woods Richardson hasn’t gone more than four innings or thrown more than 55 pitches in any single outing since joining the Blue Jays, he might not be stretched out enough to go a full starter’s workload each time out.

Consequently, he will likely need to be part of a bullpen day or come into the game after an opener for him to be most effective. As a result, the rest of the Blue Jays bullpen will be crucial in being counted upon by the team to contribute and eke out some wins. In doing so, that could be the difference between making the MLB Playoffs or going home come the end of September.

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