Why this rookie pitchers' arm is the key to the Blue Jays title hopes in 2025

As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare to play either the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees in the ALDS starting Saturday afternoon, they know they’ll need contributions from every member of the roster. One pitcher has emerged as a vital piece of a bullpen that will need to get huge outs if the Jays are to reach, and win the World Series, and that pitcher is Braydon Fisher.

The 25-year-old had gone from relative unknown to the most important reliever on the squad in a few months and will be asked to toe the rubber in high-leverage spots this October. Fisher was acquired last June in exchange for Cavan Biggio and cash in a trade that seemed forgettable at the time but looks prescient now.

Why this rookie pitchers' arm is the key to the Blue Jays title hopes in 2025

The former 4th-round draft pick has been arguably the team’s best relief pitcher since he made his MLB debut on May 11. He didn’t break camp with the Blue Jays despite a 1.93 ERA and seven strikeouts across four appearances in the spring.

Fisher is 7-0 with a 2.70 ERA (159 ERA+) 1.02 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts over 50 innings (11.2 SO/9 IP) pitched. He was sent down to Triple-A Buffalo in late August as part of a roster crunch, but has been sharp since his return, surrendering just two earned runs in 11.1 innings (1.59 ERA) since being recalled on September 5.

One of the things that has made Fisher so successful, and one of the reasons he’ll be one of the high-leverage arms this postseason, is his ability to strand inherited baserunners. Of 27 baserunners inherited during the season, the former Texas high schooler only allowed a single earned run, including retiring the last 12.

He’s also got the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that can end a rally quickly, allowing just a .154 opponents’ batting average in late & close situations, defined as Plate Appearances in the 7th or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one, or the tying run at least on deck, according to baseballreference.com.

Toronto is confident in its starting pitching, with Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber slated to pitch Games One and Two of the ALDS. The bullpen will be relied on in massive situations with the game on the line, and Fisher has put himself in a position to get some of those calls.

 Expect him to be used in high-leverage spots whenever the opposing team’s most dangerous hitters are up to bat, similarly to the way Andrew Miller was deployed by Cleveland the last time the Blue Jays reached the divisional round.

Jeff Hoffman is still the closer, but Fisher, along with Yariel Rodriguez, Louis Varland, Tommy Nance, and Brendon Little, will form a late-inning brigade that must be effective for the Jays to hoist their first World Series title since 1993.