OverDrive - Matheson on the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks' series, Lauer's struggles and the cold bats

Episode Date: April 17, 2026

MLB.com Blue Jays Reporter Keegan Matheson joined OverDrive to discuss the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks' matchup, Braydon Fisher opening in the series start, the offensive problems throughout the roster, the injury bug turning into a bigger problem and more.

Let's head down Arizona. Here's MLB.com reporter. Big part of what we do at TSNN here on overdrive, here's Keegan Matheson. Keegan, what's going on here? Fisher over Lauer tonight. What do you make of it? It's an interesting one, guys. I'm almost surprised we didn't see this a bit earlier. It's a way to shake up someone. And if you're going to open up for someone, I would rather tell Eric Lauer.

I'm using an opener in front of him than tell Max Scherzer's or that. So good start. And ideally what you're looking for here, guys. is to get through those one, two, three, four hitters, like the real big dogs at the top of the lineup. And what you are doing is trying to give Eric Lauer a softer landing spot. You're trying to get him away from the big ones

the first time through. And then he comes in and faces the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and maybe goes once more through that order. We'll see how this works, guys. There are a million variables in this rotation already with guys coming back, guys who have not looked good. Shures are definitely included.

We'll see how that looks tomorrow. But this is just another one, guys. This rotation is a complete mess right now. And I can't believe we're saying that because we spent all of March and most of February talking about them having too much good pitching. So it's wild to see this already at this point. Yeah, it has rapidly approached. And you're right about it being easier to say this to Lauer than Scherzer. But Scherzer hasn't been great either, Keegan.

Like if they're making this decision with Lauer, it's because they realize it's desperate. They can't. They're not slugging right now. get to that momentarily, but they have aspirations of winning, obviously, and I guess what I'm getting to is, like, how long is the leash for Scherzer? If they're doing this with Lauer, Scherzer goes out and gets blown up tomorrow. Why does he get a start guaranteed in five more days? That could get uncomfortable really quickly, especially Hayes. We're still talking about forearm tendonitis and all of this. And, listen, two things can be true at the same time.

And I think that is what's been lost with the Max Scherzer discourse. Okay? He's a Hall of Famer. Yes. And yes, it was really cool when he had a good start in Seattle and yelled at John Schneider on the mound. That was great. I think it's erased from people's minds that he had a five-plus ERA last season. And this season has not started out good.

That still needs to be acknowledged and it has just not been. It's surprised me how people talk about this situation. I think it should be more of a talking point. Yes, Lauer has struggled early on. He also had the flu and it looked like he lost 20 of his 190 pounds overnight. So I give the guy a break for another start or two. But Scherzer, when you're dealing with this forearm issue especially, that's making me nervous.

Now, ideally he's past it and we can see him work through this and have his full health. But I'm not sure how that happens with a forearm. It's going to be a big one this weekend because you savages coming back, Patrick Corbyn looked good enough. Yesterday, certainly more than good enough. And then Jose Berrios is going to be coming back pretty soon after you, Savage. You're going to be getting healthy arms back. They've said from the beginning, the best five guys are going to start.

And that is how you need to behave if you are trying to be a World Series contender. Keegan, how does the bats get going? Maybe the advice is being played over these speakers, fellas. If you're looking for your baggage, I can tell you which carousel it's on at the beautiful Phoenix Arena. fellas, I landed in Phoenix at the exact same time as the president. Do not recommend it. So I'm just kind of hunkering down in the airport. Let me tell you, fellas.

And then I'll get to the lineup, guys. But I got into the Uber the moment they shut down the roads, put in about 40 minutes in an Uber, not a single rotation of the tires. And I had to say to the guy, listen, I'm just going to get out of your car now, man. I don't care if I pay for it. It's on the company, but I'm going to pop back in the airport here. So we're hanging out luggage side right now. It's a bit of a debacle, but it's not all glamour and adoration on the road, fellas, you know,

but the lineup right now, they need extra base hits. John Schneider said it, and he's dead right. They need extra base hits. This looks like the 2024 lineup. This looks like the group that was trying to hit four singles in a row and score one run that way. It's a lot cooler and it's a lot easier if you hit home runs, if you drive the ball. Not a lot of players are doing that right now, guys. David Schneider, I think, is doing a good job.

Hazer Sanchez is doing a good job of that right now. But Vladdy isn't. He's not getting anything to hit and he's getting walked a lot, pitched around a lot. You don't have barger, you don't have George Springer there. It's been awfully tough and there's not nearly enough extra base power happening right now. So, Kagan, you brought it up. I was going to ask you about Vladi, I think five extra base hits so far. So is it just he's not being pitched to because there's no protection around him or is there something you're seeing with him?

protection is a good one to focus on there because the let's focus guys on the spots on the lineup that are different every single time right it's the number two and the number four spot it's either side of Vladdy over and over again and they're always going to pitch around Vladdy no matter what you want to be careful you don't want to get turned into a highlight reel but when you don't have the protection when you don't have that consistent threat around him and when you don't have runners on then you can be really careful then you can really careful then you can really make sure you don't end up on Sports Center that night as the pitcher who just got taken 500 feet by Vladdy. There's just no threat. There's no pressure around Vladdy right now. And I don't want to give him an excuse because great hitters need to find ways to hit no matter what. Barry Bonds wasn't getting a pitch in the strike zone and he still did what he did. Okay. You need to find a way to do what this team needs. But right now, there's just no added pressure. Pitchers are allowed to work around Vladdy if they walk him, whatever. That's probably a best case scenario sometimes when you're facing him.

But there's just not enough happening on either side, number two or number four. But Keegan Mathis and Jay's Diamondbacks tonight, and the injuries are well documented. Kirk being out, Springer out, Bargera. That's your one, four, five hitter from opening night. The issue is the two-hitter opening night with Nathan Lucas, and he's literally, the worst bat in baseball right now. Like they can't even play them. And then Okamoto, who I think

hit six or seven opening night, is really, really struggling. So that is a part, I'm just adding to what you're saying here with, you know, Vladdy, Vlad's got to be better. He's, again, the extra base hits, he's only got one home run. He's got to be better. He's got to produce

more in bigger situations. But Springer, Kirk, Barger out, Lucas unplayable, Okamoto, really, really struggling. And Santander. And Santander, who was never part of the program, but you're right. It's been a while since I heard that name.

It's a good point. It's a good point. I mean, like, if they didn't have Jesus Sanchez here, like, we've reached that point, Kegan. But, like, they're putting guys in the lineup in, like, prime positions that were not even talking points three weeks ago. Exactly. And guys, listen, I don't want to wish away the six weeks.

I get to spend on Clearwater Beach every spring. But what am I doing down there? Everything we've talked about has completely flipped. It's amazing to be talking about Jesus Sanchez as one of the most important bats. We spent so long talking about Barger, about Varsho, who has been good, about Okamoto, maybe getting that offense rolling quick and early. I never expected Nathan Lucas to be at this point right now. You know, Nathan Lucas is such a sturdy, rock-solid, professional bats.

Like, he's not going to be an all-star or a super-suffer. but he was put in the lineup so often last year because he's sturdy, he's reliable. And that's just not happening. And when you have Kaz Okamoto's contract, you get a few more opportunities than the guy are in close to the minimum. So that's going to be tough on Nathan Lucas. He is going to feel that squeeze. And you also need to think, guys, Springer's coming back.

Bar Show is coming back. That's going to happen soon. And if Nathan Lucas is not producing, someone like Lenin Sosa is probably more worthy of a roster spot at that time. They have a ton of outfielders already. He is now the guy that could feel that squeeze, and I think it's getting more obvious. Well, enjoy your Uber drive if you can get it.

That whole city is going to be bedlam, man, I would think, for the next 24 hours. Anyway, stay safe, buddy, and get to that park and enjoy Arizona while you can. We'll see, fellas. I might just get on a plane back. It's still TBD, but it's been great talking. Okay. Good catching up. We'll do it again next week.

See you guys. There is Keegan Matheson, MLB.com. Hello, Canada. This is Brian Adams Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. We'll play a few of mine, a ton of my favorites, and some must-hear behind-the-scenes stories from the world of rock and roll. I'm coming to get to.

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