Blue Jays announce huge personnel change for remainder of the season

Jose Berrios will be available out of the bullpen for the rest of the season. That was a post-game announcement from Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Schneider, following the teams embarrassing 20-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Blue Jays announce huge personnel change for their rotation for remainder of the season

Reports from several Blue Jays beat writers indicate that the Blue Jays have decided to trim down their rotation at this time as they look for ways to end their three game slide and lock down a playoff spot and, potentially, a division title.

According to those reports, Schneider said he had a long conversation with Berrios about moving the the pen, something Schneider says was not a comfortable thing to do. He says, "(Berrios is) a guy who's had so many consecutive starts. I think the position that we're in now warrants some tough conversations at times. We're trying to do what we can to win as many games as we can right now."

After Trey Yesavage's debut on Monday night in Tampa Bay, it appears that the Blue Jays are going to go with a rotation that consists of the rookie Yesavage, two former Cy Young award winners in Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer, and rounded out with Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. Eric Lauer, who spent the majority of the middle part of the season in the rotation, has been exclusively working out the bullpen since the beginning of September.

Berrios has really had a mixed bag of success over his last five starts. He's thrown 22 innings while allowing 19 runs (15 earned) with a 6.14 ERA and 5.47 FIP. Opponents have a .324 BABIP against him in those games. It's an unfortunate turn of events for Berrios who was Toronto's Opening Day starter to begin the season.

The 31-year-old from Peurto Rico, who was just named as a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award, had a really strong stretch from the beginning of April through the end of June. He pitched 97 innings and allowed just 32 runs (31 earned) with an ERA of 2.88, with 84 strikeouts and an opponents BABIP of .264. But those numbers haven't held up deeper into the season.

Schneider told reporters, "He’s a professional. There’s a reason José Berríos is José Berríos. As uncomfortable as it is, I think he gets it. That’s kind of where we are right now.” After the Blue Jays strung together six straight wins, they have now dropped three in a row - although their magic number to clinch the AL East division is down to five.