The Blue Jays will use Jose Berrios as a reliever going forward

Barring a bad stretch in the final two weeks of the season, the Toronto Blue Jays will enter the playoffs as the top seed in the American League.

If the Blue Jays, who entered Saturday with an 89-65 record and four games ahead of No. 2 seed Seattle Mariners and No. 3 seed Detroit Tigers, will earn a bye through the wild card round if they manage to hold on to the top seed.

Ahead of the postseason, Toronto made an interesting decision when it comes to their starting rotation that will have ramifications for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

The Blue Jays moved starting pitcher Jose Berrios from the starting rotation to the bullpen. Manager John Schneider said Berrios will pitch as a reliever for the rest of the regular season "and going forward."

According to a report from MLB.com's Toronto reporter Keegan Matheson, Berrios could still start if the Blue Jays require him to. But Berrios has been informed of the move.

“He’s a professional," Schneider said according to Matheson's report. "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.”

Berrios has posted a 4.06 ERA with 135 strikeouts in 164 innings pitched across 30 starts this season. 

Berrios has made 274 outings this season, and all but one of them have been starts.

Berrios has been with Toronto since 2021 when the team acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.

Berrios has made 138 appearances (all starts) with the Blue Jays since then. He's had a 4.06 ERA, has posted a 53-39 record and has fanned 699 batters in 788.1 innings pitched.

Berrios' move to the bullpen has come with reintroduction of several pitchers to the rotation.

Shane Bieber was activated off the 60-day injured list Aug. 22 and 2024 first-round pick Trey Yesavage had his contract selected Sept. 15. As it currently stands, the Blue Jays starting rotation would be Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Bieber and Yesavage.

Yesavage wouldn't be eligible for the postseason roster due to not being on the 40-man roster before Sept. 1. That would make the postseason rotation Gausman, Bassitt, Scherzer and Bieber, with the option of slotting Berrios in if need be.

Toronto will be looking to bounceback from a 20-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday in Game 2 of a three-game series against Kansas City at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday.