The Toronto Blue Jays are in the middle of an intense series against the Tampa Bay Rays, but their biggest battle might be happening off the field—keeping their pitching staff healthy.

In a season where every win counts, the Jays have been hit hard by injuries. The latest blow came when Eric Lauer was designated for assignment after a rough outing against the Angels, where he allowed six runs in just five relief innings. That pushed his ERA to 6.69 and gave him an American League-leading fifth loss. It's a tough break for a pitcher who was supposed to help stabilize the bullpen.

To fill the gap, Toronto called up Yariel Rodríguez from Triple-A Buffalo. He's a versatile arm who can eat up multiple innings in relief, but the bigger question is what the Jays will do about their fifth starter spot. The rotation is already thin: Cody Ponce is out for the season, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios haven't thrown a pitch yet, and Max Scherzer is dealing with a forearm issue. That leaves Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and newcomer Patrick Corbin carrying the load.

So who steps up? The Blue Jays don't have a ton of depth in the minors, but names like CJ Van Eyk and Chad Dallas are emerging as the top candidates to claim that rotation spot. It's also possible the front office will look outside the organization for help—whether through a trade or a free-agent signing.

Meanwhile, the injury bug isn't just biting the pitchers. Addison Barger, who just returned from an ankle issue, is back on the injured list with an elbow problem after playing just one game. He's one of several key players the Jays are missing as they push for a return to the World Series.

For a team with championship aspirations, this kind of adversity tests both the roster and the clubhouse culture. The next few weeks will show just how deep the Blue Jays' pitching well really goes.