Why Do the Blue Jays Use an Opener?

The Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with several injuries to their rotation, which led to the adoption of a controversial pitching strategy. 

Using an opener is when a team opts to “start” the game with a reliever, usually for the first inning, before bringing in their “starter” in a relief role for multiple innings from the second frame onwards. 

On its own, the opener doesn’t have a major impact on the betting markets at the BetMGM online sportsbook, but it’s a factor to be aware of when wagering on game markets. 

Toronto Blue Jays Opener Usage

Blue Jays manager John Schneider opted for an opener on April 17. Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks before Eric Lauer entered at the start of the second inning in a bulk role.

Other teams have consistently used an opener in recent years, but the Blue Jays have been more traditional in their starting pitcher usage. 

It’s a strategy that has had plenty of success across the majors, though it has often been an unpopular option with veteran starters like Lauer. 

What Is the Benefit of an Opener?

Using an opener is a way for teams to control the matchups against the top of the opponent’s order. It means a team can use one of its high-leverage relievers in the first inning against the opposing team’s best hitters.

The starter usually enters the game at the start of the second inning. In theory, this means the starting pitcher faces a weaker part of the order. It also limits the number of times the starting pitcher faces the top of the order. 

Complaints About the Opener

After following Fisher on April 17, Lauer bemoaned his role.

The veteran said, “To be real blunt, I hate it. I can’t stand it. But you work with what you got.”

Schneider defended the decision, but Lauer isn’t the first pitcher to complain about the impact the opener has on a starting pitcher’s preparation. 

The Tampa Bay Rays were early adopters of the opener in 2018 and 2019, and the San Francisco Giants commonly used it under Gabe Kapler. It’s been a less popular strategy in recent seasons, however, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Blue Jays stick with it amid their pitching injury crisis.