Moving struggling Spencer Arrighetti to bullpen could help save Blue Jays in tight postseason push

With only 18 games remaining in the MLB regular season and the Toronto Blue Jays being in a tight AL wild-card race, there may only be one thing standing in their way: Spencer Arrighetti. They are only one game behind a final wild-card spot, and the team should strongly consider moving the struggling starting pitcher to the bullpen. Since joining the team, Arrighetti has gone 0-4 with an inflated 8.04 ERA across four appearances and two starts. He's also given up 16 hits and 14 earned runs with 13 strikeouts, eight walks, five home runs and a 1.53 WHIP. In his recent start against the Kansas City Royals, he was charged with six earned runs across 4 2/3 innings, where he underwent struggles with command and executing spin on his pitches. 'I don't think it has to be done right now. Maybe there's a place for him in the bullpen.'@KPILLAR4 breaks down why Spencer Arrighetti doesn't have to be in the rotation right now as the Blue Jays sprint to the finish for a playoff spot. pic.twitter.com/y0By8J6uR9 With a rotation that's already strained with injuries, the Blue Jays have leaned on strong outings from Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer and Jose Soriano. While Soriano has run into several jams and has drawn 13 walks across six starts, he's been able to escape high-pressure situations with his dominant knuckle-curve. The Blue Jays have experimented with using guys like Spencer Miles as an opener to ease Arrighetti into games, but that hasn't provided him with a better result. He's yet to provide a clean outing for the team, giving up at least one home run in each of his four outings and two in his last. Transitioning him to the bullpen could help ease him into a low-leverage role that would have him pitching in shorter stints. It would also simplify his pitch mix while limiting him to two or so innings, taking away the burden of turning the opposing lineup over several times. Reducing his workload could also give him the chance to boost his mid-90s four-seam fastball velocity that's taken a dip. In addition, pitching as a reliever eliminates the pressure of having to deliver a strong performance across 5-6 innings. All in all, it permits him to focus on attacking hitters through reduced exposure and shorter stints. Before joining the Blue Jays, he suffered a foot injury (Morton's neuroma), which has also played a role in impacting his performance. Nevertheless, a piggyback or controlled bulk role would help save him from the early game offense he's surrendered. In addition, it would help him to work through his mechanics and rediscover his former dominance outside of high-leverage situations. Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.