Blue Jays urged to use 5-infielder plan when Tyler Rogers pitches

Defensive struggles cost Toronto in loss to Brewers

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:12pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives, conceptually representing the defensive challenges posed by an unconventional pitching style.A cubist interpretation of a baseball pitcher's unique delivery style, highlighting the challenges of defending against unorthodox pitching mechanics.Today in Milwaukee

The Toronto Blue Jays lost 2-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, with submarining reliever Tyler Rogers allowing two runs (one earned) in the bottom of the eighth inning. The loss was largely due to poor infield defense behind Rogers, prompting calls for the Blue Jays to consider using a five-infielder defensive alignment when he pitches.

Why it matters

The Blue Jays' loss highlighted the challenges of defending against Rogers' unique pitching style, which relies on extreme groundball contact. Using a five-infielder setup could help mitigate defensive lapses and improve the team's chances of winning close games when Rogers is on the mound.

The details

Rogers, known for his low-sidearm delivery that produces a heavy sinker, was not hit particularly hard in the outing. However, the Blue Jays' infielders struggled to cleanly field several groundballs, leading to the decisive runs scoring. Adopting a five-infielder alignment, with one fewer outfielder, could provide more coverage around the infield and better support Rogers' pitching style.

  • The Blue Jays lost to the Brewers on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.

The players

Tyler Rogers

A submarining relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who relies on generating groundball outs.

Milwaukee Brewers

The opposing team that defeated the Blue Jays in the April 16, 2026 game.

Toronto Blue Jays

The MLB team that lost to the Brewers, prompting calls for a defensive adjustment when Tyler Rogers pitches.

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What’s next

The Blue Jays will consider using a five-infielder defensive alignment when Tyler Rogers pitches in future games to better support his groundball-inducing pitching style.

The takeaway

The Blue Jays' loss to the Brewers highlighted the need for creative defensive strategies to support pitchers like Tyler Rogers who rely on generating groundballs. Adopting a five-infielder setup could help the team win close games when Rogers is on the mound.