Blue Jays rally from a 4-2 hole to stun the Orioles 5-4, riding Addison Barger’s fifth-inning homer and Alejandro Kirk’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly. Kirk also delivered an eighth-inning RBI single to keep Toronto within one as Joey Loperfido added a late RBI hit. Baltimore tagged early against Tomoyuki Sugano, with Gunnar Henderson and Coby Mayo providing key early and late offense, while Max Scherzer worked five for Toronto. Bieber may settle the finale as Baltimore halves look to bullpen-day.

Blue Jays shift gears to protect their rotation, pushing Max Scherzer’s next start back one day while Chris Bassitt steps in on normal rest for Saturday. The move aims to shield a veteran with a history of finger and back issues and keep the weekend series against the Yankees intact. bullpen tweaks continue as Tommy Nance, Ryan Borucki and Braydon Fisher rejoin high-leverage duties, while Addison Barger shows signs of reclaiming his midseason form. Depth remains a priority as the club navigates a grueling stretch without farm-system trades.

Beyond the immediate rotation, the Jays lean on emerging depth and smarter pitch usage. Fisher’s Buffalo sojourn resets the body, Nance and Borucki anchor lefty/righty matchups, and the lineup growth from Barger's recent uptick provides critical momentum. The plan centers on practical safeguards and short, flexible stints from a bullpen that needs to cover more innings as starters shorten outings down the stretch.

Overall, the article frames a pragmatic approach: protect the veteran arms, leverage bullpen versatility, and rely on Barger's steadying presence to fuel a push for late-season wins. If Scherzer’s issues flare again, the Jays would pivot, but for now the strategy emphasizes prudent rest and bullpen depth as the path to postseason viability.