If someone in March had told you that Spencer Miles would enter the All-Star break as not only one of the most trusted but also one of the most impactful pitchers on this roster, you would have looked on in disbelief.
After being selected in the Rule 5 Draft last December, the Blue Jays found not just another pitcher but one of their most important pieces behind Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, and Louis Varland.
Expectation vs. Reality
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for Miles. A Rule 5 Draft pick who, prior to the 2026 season, had only 14.2 professional innings pitched now finds himself throwing meaningful innings for the Blue Jays.
With the big names in the bullpen (Hoffman, Rogers, and Varland) expected to pitch in high-leverage spots, Miles was meant to be more of a bulk-inning guy, tasked with eating up innings. However, Cody Ponce went down early in the season with an ACL tear, Max Scherzer moved in and out of the rotation because of injuries, and the signing of veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin did not pan out. As a result, Miles has found himself taking on more important innings in higher-leverage situations.
Miles made his first start as an opener on May 10 against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. Most recently, in a 9-3 win against the San Francisco Giants last Tuesday, he made his third career start, going four innings and allowing only two earned runs.
With his recent success, Miles may be a solution to fill the fifth-starter role until the trade deadline, when the Blue Jays could pursue another starting pitcher — a scenario that no one would have guessed entering the season. The volatility of Toronto’s pitching staff has proven that what was once unexpected has quickly become a reality for Miles.
Not often you see a Rule 5 guy (Spencer Miles, from the SF org) throw 99 with movement like this on the corner, while striking out the side. He’s a real one. pic.twitter.com/jzYtFYcLtF
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) July 1, 2026
The Blue Jays’ Swiss Army Knife
In late May, prior to a matchup against the New York Yankees, Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Spencer Miles’ attitude, saying, “I love his demeanor,” and it seems that demeanor has remained consistent in every situation he has faced. Schneider followed up by saying Miles is “very adjustable.”
At first glance, the different roles Miles has filled this season read like a checklist of pitching assignments. Across all his roles, he has maintained a 2.85 ERA and a WHIP just above one.
From starting the season as a bulk reliever, making appearances as an opener, and now filling in when Toronto needs him in the rotation, Spencer Miles is proving to be a Swiss Army knife the Blue Jays can pull in any situation.
The Intangible Value of Spencer Miles
You would be hard-pressed to find anybody on the Blue Jays who has matched the intangible value Spencer Miles has created. Take this past week, for example. Miles went from starting a game against the Giants to throwing two scoreless innings in a high-leverage situation late in the game against San Diego. Miles’ impact extends beyond the traditional box score.
The off-season signings of Okamoto and Cease have paid off for the Jays, as they stand out as the most valuable players on the Blue Jays’ roster, number-wise. Okamoto is top 10 in the league in home runs and is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year; likewise, Dylan Cease is putting together a Cy Young-caliber season. Not to mention, both Okamoto and Cease are the top two ranked players in WAR—Cease at 3.6 and Okamoto at 2.3.
However, Miles does have a 1.6 WAR, putting him on track to finish the season with a 2-plus WAR. For context, no one in the 2025 Blue Jays’ bullpen came close to reaching the 1.6 WAR mark at season’s end, and Miles enters the All-Star break having already reached that benchmark. His 1.6 WAR is also good enough to rank him among the top five players on the roster in WAR behind Cease, Okamoto, Trey Yesavage, and Louis Varland.
Miles’ numbers have merit, and there is no denying he has exceeded expectations and become everything the Blue Jays could have hoped for and more. Though he may not have the most measurable value on Toronto’s roster, his adaptability, reliability, and versatility have quickly turned him from a Rule 5 Draft pick into one of the Blue Jays’ most trusted players.
Main Image Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
