TORONTO -- Gavin Floyd has been one of the most consistent performers out of the Blue Jays' bullpen this season, but it appears as though he has hit a bit of a wall lately.
Floyd has allowed at least one run in five of his last six appearances. He surrendered a go-ahead homer to David Ortiz on Saturday, and one Sunday, Floyd was responsible for the two runs that led to a 5-3 loss vs. Boston.
The 33-year-old Floyd previously secured the club's top setup role after Brett Cecil and Drew Storen struggled to begin the year. Floyd hasn't pitched himself out of that job yet, but by the sounds of it, manager John Gibbons will be looking to give him a bit of a break.
"Well, I just think that he was worn down," Gibbons said. "He's been working and pitching a lot. There's a lot of innings over his career and he's had some arm issues, so we're trying to be careful with him, but the way the games have all gone the last week, they're tight games and he's been so good for us. I just think he's a little bit out of gas right now."
Floyd has pitched in three of Toronto's last four games, and he was working on back-to-back days for just the second time in his career. Fatigue may have been a factor as Floyd retired the first batter he faced but then lost control of the strike zone and walked the next two batters.
That set the scene for Boston's Dustin Pedroia to hit the go-ahead double off Storen in the very next at-bat. Floyd was saddled with his fourth loss of the season, but in this particular case, Gibbons didn't really have much of a choice but to use him once the game went to extras.
Toronto's bullpen has been overworked of late, and Gibbons hinted a roster move may be coming before Monday's game vs. New York. When Floyd entered Sunday afternoon, only Storen and Aaron Loup -- who pitched the previous two days -- remained.
"Health-wise, I feel great," said Floyd, whose ERA went to 3.91. "I just didn't have it today. It was kind of a tough outing. I wasn't able to attack like I normally do and it was just a tough one. ... Every outing is going to feel different and you just have to find a way to throw strikes and make good pitches. I just didn't have it today."
Prior to the 11th, Toronto's maligned relievers actually began building some momentum. They didn't allow a run from the seventh until the 10th, but the club ultimately saw its winning streak snapped at four games.
"It's going to happen," said Floyd. "It's a long season and you hope that you can put zeros up every time. That's the hope and intention, to make pitches and get guys out. Yesterday was whatever and today was different. I just didn't have it today."