Nothing about Wednesday night was "Plan A" for the Blue Jays, but what about this season has been? Scheduled starter Max Scherzer hit the IL on Wednesday afternoon just hours prior to first pitch, leaving the Blue Jays to lean on yet another bullpen game led by opener Braydon Fisher. Thankfully, they’ve practiced this scramble drill all season. This is what mattered most from the 3-0 win, which sets the Blue Jays up for a shot at the sweep Thursday afternoon at Fenway Park. **1\. 16 GAMES IN 16 DAYS** Normally, this wouldn’t be all that daunting. Besides, they travel well and stay in nice hotels these days. Given the state of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, though, 16 games in 16 days is another mountain to climb. This makes the Blue Jays’ multi-inning relievers so important over the next two weeks, especially as the club navigates whether Shane Bieber will return and hopes for some deeper starts from the struggling Patrick Corbin. Louis Varland, Braydon Fisher, Tyler Rogers, Jeff Hoffman and Mason Fluharty all rank near the top of the league in appearances, and while they’ve carried this load admirably, this simply isn’t sustainable. This is why Simeon Woods Richardson's three scoreless innings on Wednesday were crucial. He wasn’t missing bats and walked three, but what matters most is that he chewed through those innings and kept his team afloat. In Thursday’s finale, seven or more “good” innings from Trey Yesavage might be even more valuable than five “great” innings. This bullpen needs a collective day off.
